《The Lucky Farmgirl》 Chapter 1 - 1 Extra Stories ?1: Extra Stories 1: Extra Stories Ive noticed that in the reviews of the first few chapters, some readers have mentioned that there is no history after Tang, which is actually a misconception. Historiography is not that simple. Historians collect, analyze, and ponder information; they dont just believe whatever they hear like most people on the internet nowadaysthey prioritize facts. Saying things like history is written by the victors is something only losers would say, and only those who dont understand history would believe. Who said that quote? It was said by a defeated Nazi officer. Why should we take the word of a Nazi officer as an authoritative standard and even promote it extensively? Indeed, Manbaos book is set against the backdrop of the early Tang Dynasty, even featuring characters with traits from that era, but my descriptions dont even come close to matching the historical figures of Emperor Taizong of Tang and Wei Zheng by one-tenth. Of all the emperors in our history, I admire two the most: Qin Shi Huang and Li Shimin. Its widely believed on the internet these days that Emperor Taizong altered history, but I dont think so. This perception is due to Sima Guangs Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance, which documented Emperor Taizong wanting to read the records of daily life, and Fang Xuanling among others dissuading him, believing that no emperor should view these records and that if Emperor Taizong set such a precedent, future generations might follow suit, eventually leading to accusations against historians. Emperor Taizong didnt listen, and then Fang Xuanling and others compiled the actual records according to the daily life logs for the emperor to read. These logs couldnt be altered, but the actual records could. In these, regarding the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Emperor Taizong said two things. One was, Remove the superfluous words, record just the facts, and the other, In the past, Duke of Zhou executed Guan and Cai to stabilize the Zhou Dynasty, and Zijuan poisoned Shu Ya to save the state of Lu. My actions are similar, why should historians omit it! It is because of these statements that Sima Guang made the subjective judgment that the records were tampered with and many materials were arbitrarily rejected and discarded. However, this judgment isnt supported by any historical evidence, so Sima Guang didnt include this opinion in the main text but placed it in the Critical Examination of the Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance. Yet later generations have believed this subjective judgment without much thought. History should be based on facts. I dont believe Li Shimin altered history. The way I wrote about this emperor in Manbaos book was purely for the sake of the plot, and I dont want to give readers the wrong impression that history was actually altered. If Emperor Taizong really changed history, why are there so many unfavorable descriptions of him in the annals? Why, despite his many great achievements, are opinions about him still mixed? Isnt it because the history is authentic? The Xuanwu Gate Incident is even included in middle school and high school history textbooks and has become widely known. His love of play, gambling, and womenhood, his excessive favoring of one of his sons leading to the crown princes rebellion, his failure to educate his children, and even his grave-robbing of Wei Zhengs tombthese are all recorded in history. If he wanted to tamper with history, why leave so many faults in the official records, for posterity to read? Perhaps Fang Xuanling and others considered that Emperor Taizong would read the official records, so they were very discreet in describing the Xuanwu Gate Incident. After reading it, Emperor Taizong said that historians should record the truth. However, some readers of the Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance say Li Shimin directly characterized the Xuanwu Gate Incident because he said to Fang Xuanling, In the past, Duke of Zhou executed Guan and Cai to stabilize the Zhou Dynasty, and Zijuan poisoned Shu Ya to save the state of Lu. My actions are similar, why should historians omit it! But this statement was originally said by Fang Xuanling in the ninth year of Wude to persuade Li Shimin, so more than ten years later, Li Shimin didnt need to use this statement to characterize the event. By returning this saying to Fang Xuanling, he meant, since you consider the Xuanwu Gate Incident similar to that of Duke of Zhou, why then hesitate to speak of it? Here in Manbaos book, I write that the emperor cares about his illegitimate rise to power only for the plot development, not that the historical Li Shimin was really like that. Chapter 2 - 2 1 Lost the bet ?2: Chapter 1: Lost the bet 2: Chapter 1: Lost the bet Junior Ms. Qian, carrying a basket on her back, tiptoed to the entrance of the schools kitchen. She carefully lifted her little sister out of the basket and placed her on the threshold, whispering, Manbao, just sit here. Your sister-in-law is going to cook, and Ill take you home in a while. Manbao nodded obediently. As soon as her sister-in-law turned to enter the kitchen, she trotted off with her little legs towards the classroom next door. The children inside were reciting the Thousand Character Classic under the teachers guidance. Manbao, knowing her way around, dragged a stone over to the window, stepped on it, and peeped inside. Her eyes shone like stars as she stared intently at the scene within. Bai Erlang, seated not far from the window, felt Manbaos gaze and stealthily turned his head to glare at her fiercely. Undeterred, Manbao glared back and even pulled a face at him. Enraged, Bai Erlangs eyes widened. Just then, Mr. Zhuang passed by and lightly tapped him on the head, chiding, Pay attention. Manbao couldnt help but laugh at the sight, delighted. When she saw Mr. Zhuang glance over, she playfully winked at him. The white-bearded teacher couldnt help but shake his head and sigh. He let it pass and simply allowed her to listen to the reading from her perch at the window. Mr. Zhuang said, Today we are going to learn the last part of the Thousand Character Classic: In brilliant attire, they hose their silken dresses. Gracefully they smear on powder and gently smile. As the years fly by, the glow of the morning gives way to the radiant dawn... Ignorant and isolated, foolish and mocked, one who gains meaning from words, how rare are they indeed.'' The students read each line in succession, and Manbao, standing outside the window, joined in with her childish voice, surprisingly loud. The students inside, having grown accustomed to her presence, continued reciting along with Mr. Zhuang undisturbed. Manbao had been reciting the Thousand Character Classic since she could speak and had long since memorized it. Seeing Mr. Zhuang put down his book to let the younger students practice on their own as he walked over to the older ones to teach them something else, Manbao hopped off the stone and ran into Mr. Zhuangs residence. When Mr. Zhuang announced the end of the school day and sauntered back to his adjacent dwelling, he found Manbao had already swept in front of the door and was sitting on the ground, organizing the papers he had discarded. Seeing Mr. Zhuang return, Manbao happily showed him the sorted papers, Look, teacher, the backs are still usable. These are just drafts of essays Ive ruined. If you want them, you can take them home. Manbao shook her head, The backs can still be used for calligraphy practice. Teacher, you use them first, and once the backs are also filled, then Ill take them. Unable to argue with her, Mr. Zhuang simply took the papers and placed them on the table, pointing at another stack of fully written sheets, Take these home with you. If theres any character you dont understand, come and ask me. Manbao happily agreed, tidily stacking the papers and tucking them into her embrace, skipping merrily to the kitchen to find her sister-in-law. Junior Ms. Qian had finished cooking and was serving meals to the children. Manbao slipped into the kitchen, greeted her sister-in-law, and then carried Mr. Zhuangs meal to him. Mr. Zhuang pointed to the mat across from him, Sit down and eat with me. Manbao shook her head, Ill eat in the kitchen later. This is for the teacher. Please eat. Mr. Zhuang didnt insist. He picked up a piece of meat and held it to her mouth. Manbao ate it joyfully but couldnt sit still for long and soon scampered off. Mr. Zhuang chuckled and shook his head, making no attempt to call her back. Manbao ran to the kitchen, where Junior Ms. Qian, upon seeing her, scraped the last bits of the crispy rice from the bottom of the pot into a bowl for her. Manbao politely grabbed the crispy rice and stuffed it into her mouth, breaking off a piece to put into her sister-in-laws mouth as well. Junior Ms. Qians face lit up with a smile, and while eating, she playfully pushed the bowl back to Manbao, insisting, You eat, you eat. There isnt much anyway. It was just one pot of rice, and the crispy rice was only a small amount. If she made too much, the students wouldnt be full, which could cost her the cooking job. Junior Ms. Qian had been the cook in the school for three years and was very adept at managing this balance. Mr. Zhuang was a teacher hired by Old Master Bai, the villages landlord. The school was largely funded by the Bai Family in collaboration with donations from the families in the village. When Mr. Zhuang first started teaching here, he brought his wife and children along. As there were also children from two neighboring villages attending the school, they couldnt go home for lunch. Sympathetic to their hunger, Mr. Zhuang charged each student six jin of rice and thirtywen to have lunch at the school. Initially, Mr. Zhuangs wife managed the schools kitchen, buying vegetables from the villagers and using the rice brought by the students. Occasionally, she would buy some meat to mince and cook for everyone. At the end of the month, she would have only about twenty or thirtywen left over, which was considered her modest compensation for the hardship. Chapter 3 - 3 2 Lost the Bet ?3: Chapter 2: Lost the Bet 3: Chapter 2: Lost the Bet The village elders had their own calculations and knew that Mr. Zhuang wasnt in it for their money; he was simply taking pity on his students. They were well aware that the children still needed to eat at home, so they were more than happy to provide this bit of sustenance. Even the students from the same village brought rice over. Later on, Mr. Zhuangs elderly wife fell gravely ill and passed away, and his grandchildren were taken to live in the city by his son and daughter-in-law, leaving him alone in the village to teach. With no one left to do the chores, Mr. Zhuang spent a hundred wen to hire Junior Ms. Qian as a cook. When Landlord Bai found out, he told Junior Ms. Qian to return the money to Mr. Zhuang and paid her himself. He also took care of the rice and money that the students had brought, so Mr. Zhuang could focus on teaching with peace of mind. At that time, Manbao was only eight months old and couldnt even walk yet. Junior Ms. Qians primary job was to take care of Manbao and her own youngest son Sixth Brother, so she often carried both children in a basket to the schools kitchen. Occasionally, she would pinch a rice ball from the pot for them to eat, raising them both very well. But now Sixth Brother was four years old and didnt like coming to the school. He preferred playing with his elder siblings, so now it was only Manbao who stayed by Junior Ms. Qians side. Even though it was just a bit of rice crust each day, Manbao was raised plump and fair, not at all like a child from a farmers household, much less like one from the Zhou Family. After Manbao and Eldest Sister-in-law Zhou finished sharing out the rice crust and cleaned the pots and pans, she happily hopped and skipped her way home. Junior Ms. Qian wanted to carry her in the basket, but Manbao refused, running to the side and saying, I can walk by myself, I can do it. Junior Ms. Qian didnt force her, Alright, walk by yourself, just dont fall. Im already a big kid, I wont fall, Manbao shouted as she ran ahead, but when she saw a crowd of people gathered at her front door, she was thrilled and rushed towards them. Then she heard a harsh scream from inside and shuddered with fright. Junior Ms. Qian sensed something was wrong before Manbao did and rushed forward, holding her tight. The onlookers made way when they saw Junior Ms. Qian, Eldest Sister-in-law Zhou is back, let her through, quickly now. Eldest Sister-in-law Zhou, your Fourth Uncle has lost at gambling, and the creditors have come knocking, one informed her. Meanwhile, others took perverse pleasure in the misfortune, He owes no small amount. Old Zhou looks like hes about to beat his son to death. Youd better go and calm things down. Money can be earned back, but a life gone is really gone. Junior Ms. Qians heart trembled as she pushed through the crowd toward her house. She saw Fourth Uncle being held down by Two and Third while their father swung a flail at him. In the courtyard stood about a dozen strangers, with one at the front who, interrupting Old Zhous angry shouting, said, Old Master Zhou, even if you beat your son to death today, you still have to repay my money. Otherwise, have we brothers come all this way over the mountains for nothing? Manbao broke free from Junior Ms. Qians arms and ran to her fathers side. She glanced at her no-good Fourth Uncle and then at the onlookers with furrowed brows and asked, Dad, how much money did Fourth Uncle gamble away? The young leader looked at Manbao in surprise and exclaimed, Huh, Old Master Zhou, your daughter is quite the looker. If the family has no money, you could use the child to settle the debt. Shes a bit young, but we dont mind. Old Zhou was furious and pushed his daughter behind him, raging, If you want someone, take this beast away. Let him pay off his own debts. Zhou SiLang wailed desperately, crying out, Dad, Dad, save me, please, I wont dare do it again, I swear! If they take me, theyll kill me, they really will! After giving Old Zhou a look, the young leader snorted dismissively and stepped onto Zhou SiLangs hand, grinding it as he screamed in pain. Seeing Old Zhous complexion turn from livid to ashen, the leader smirked with satisfaction, Its only fifteen taels of silver, right? Looking at your familys newly built house, it doesnt seem like youre short of cash. If thats not enough, youve got plenty of girls to sell. Just give me any two of them, but let me be clear upfront; girls arent worth much these days. It has to include your youngest daughter to settle the debt, or else others are just worth three to five taels. Without four, the debt cant be cleared. On hearing this, both Junior Ms. Qian and Ms. Feng hurriedly pulled their daughters behind them, as theirs were the only girls in the house. Old Zhou was shivering with anger, and Zhou SiLang was filled with both shock and fear, nearly wetting himself. He could only cling to his fathers clothes with his free hand, pleading, Dad, please save me, please... I wont dare do it again, never again... Zhou Er, who was holding him down, couldnt help but raise his hand to hit him. The family had just started to live a better life when Zhou SiLang had ruined it all. And Zhou Er had two daughters. If they really had to sell someone... Thinking this, Zhou Er hit him even harder, shouting, This is for not obeying, for not listening. Zhou SiLang crouched, crying for mercy. Manbao observed with tightly pursed lips, then looked at her three nieces and ran inside the house. Her mother Ms. Qian was leaning against the bed clutching her chest, and Sixth Brother was anxiously supporting her. Her mother had always been in poor health and must have been frightened by the commotion. Manbao approached and asked, Mom, how much money do we have? Ms. Qian opened her eyes, looked at her daughter, and couldnt help but wipe away tears, Why are you asking this? Is it enough to pay the debt? Ms. Qian wept, Damn him to hell, I should have drowned your Fourth Uncle at birth. Even when we scrape everything together, were still four or five taels short. Manbao inquired, Should they take Fourth Uncle away then? They came all the way over the mountains. If we dont give them a penny, by the time they reach the village border, they could beat your Fourth Uncle to death. Can we actually bear to watch him die? Ms. Qian understood this reasoning, and Old Zhou surely did too. He was just unwilling to let go. Manbao emphasized seriously, We cant sell a niece. Ms. Qian stroked her head, Wont sell, even if we sell your Fourth Uncle, we wont sell them. That damned creature. Chapter 4 - 4 2 Beat Him ?4: Chapter 2 Beat Him 4: Chapter 2 Beat Him Ms. Qian, having nearly finished crying, and having caught her breath, opened the chest and dug out a box from the bottom. She opened it to show her youngest son and daughter the money inside. Inside were strings of coins, quite heavy, with only two small pieces of broken silver, which were leftovers from building their house. The only savings they had were copper coins. Seeing these, Ms. Qian couldnt help but wipe away more tears. She counted the money over and over, but no matter how many times she counted, there were still only nine strings of coins, and those two pieces of broken silver added up to only one and a half taels. Ms. Qian also took out the cash box from the bedside cabinet, which contained the money for daily expenses. With the autumn harvest underway, Third and Four had been working for Landlord Bai and brought home their wages, which she had yet to add up and put away in the cabinet. But this sum of money wasnt large either, neatly strung into strings, one hundred wen a string, ten strings to a tael. Their luck was really bad; there were only six strings of coins in the box, and at the bottom, there were twenty or thirty wen of loose change. Ms. Qian looked at her daughter, then at her youngest son, and, hearing the increasingly loud cries of misery outside, stood up, handed all the money to her youngest son to carry out, and, supporting her daughter, went outside herself. Seeing his mother carry out the cash box, Zhou SiLang, Dason, let out a breath of relief, and almost couldnt help bursting into loud sobs. Manbao saw everything clearly and was very annoyed with Fourth Brother. In the village, there were also gamblers; their neighbor, Third Uncle Zhou, saw his son lose at gambling half a year ago, bringing back those from the gambling house to sell his wife andchildren in order to settle his debts. Their niece, Daji, was two years older than her and a good friend, so Manbao remembered gambling was a deadly matter; she didnt know if it would claim her life, but it definitely could take the lives of her loved ones. At the time, her father and mother had taught her brothers, strictly forbidding them from gambling, but now it was their familys turn. Unable to contain her anger, Manbao rushed forward and kicked Zhou SiLang fiercely in the face. Zhou SiLang shouted Ouch, ouch, yelling, Little sister, little sister, dont step on me, I...I know I was wrong! Ms. Qian did not stop her but said to her husband, The money is not enough; were still missing four and a half taels. Old Zhou frowned with worry while Ms. Qian looked at her three daughters-in-law, saying, Whatever money you have at home, take it out. Consider it a loan from your Fourth Brother, and well have him repay you later. Junior Ms. Qian, Ms. Feng, and Ms. He looked at their husbands, who nodded with grave faces, then took their own children back to their rooms to get the money. The Zhou Family had not divided their household; all earned money had to be shared, and everything consumed came from the common pot. Long ago, Junior Ms. Qian and Old Zhou had mentioned dividing the family; short of their death, they would only consider it once all the children were settled with their own families. But Ms. Qian also knew there was a difference between sons who had established their own households and those who hadnt; one needed to have some money at hand. Thus, she had always been lenient; she managed all the harvest from the fields, but from other sources of income, she only took sixty percent and left the remaining forty percent for the individual households to manage. For example, in the main branch, Junior Ms. Qian earned at least one hundred wen a month helping in the schools kitchen. After contributing sixty wen, the rest was hers to keep. Then there was the second branch, where Two had learned a bit of carpentry while working at Landlord Bais place and knew how to weave bamboo and rattan, taking his handmade items to the market for some extra cash during his spare time. Similarly, the third branch had Third who worked tirelessly, favored by the manager of Landlord Bais estate, always called upon first for work, enabling him to earn a bit extra. As for the remaining younger sons, there were no expectations from Four, who lay sprawled on the ground, while Five and Sixth, both young, either had their money taken by coaxing from their mother or sister or spent it begging Second Brother to buy candy at the market. Even if all their clothes were searched, it was doubtful more than two wen could be found. Ms. Qian didnt bother searching them. The daughters-in-law from the three branches quickly produced their own private savings, but it still wasnt enough; they were two strings of coins short. Ms. Qian then looked towards the head of the family and her several sons. Junior Ms. Qian was the first to break down, collapsing on the ground, slapping her legs as she said, Mother, we really have nothing left. We even took out the money for mooncakes we were going to send to my family for Mid-Autumn, this will ruin us! Ms. Qian, annoyed, slapped her, Why are you crying? Your mother isnt dead yet. Weve survived famine years; do you think we cant survive this measly two hundred wen? Manbao thought for a moment, then ran back to the main room, dug out a silver lock from her precious box, and handed it to Ms. Qian, Mother, use my silver lock. Chapter 5 - 5 2 Beat Him Up_2 ?5: Chapter 2 Beat Him Up_2 5: Chapter 2 Beat Him Up_2 Ms. Qians face changed dramatically, and she immediately snatched the silver lock and secured it in her bosom, fuming, This cant be given away, this is... this was made by your father and mother for you. The Taoist priest said you have a valuable fate and need something to suppress it; this lock is meant to suppress your destiny. Old Zhou said, It cant be given. The enforcer laughed out of frustration, So a life-preserving lock is more important than your sons life, huh? Look, its already halfway through the hour; we still need to get back to the county seat. If we cant make it back, will you be responsible for our food and lodging for the night? The men behind him sprang into action, starting to rummage and kick around the yard, Hurry up and pay up; its only right to repay debts. The people from the gambling house were known to leave nothing untouched. How could Zhou Dalang allow them to search through his home? He hurried to stop them. Zhou Erlang and Zhou Sanlang stopped holding Zhou Silang and hurried to help their big brother. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang, fired up with enthusiasm, followed their brothers forward, and of course, the villagers of Qili Village couldnt stand to see someone from their village being bullied and joined in the fray as well. Whats more, the enforcers had never seen a gamblers family with so many brothers. Seeing the villagers surrounding them, they didnt dare go too far. They just mockingly shoved each other, but they couldnt suppress the anger welling up within them. The village head sighed at the sight and intervened, Alright, isnt it just missing two hundred wen? Uncle Jin, Ill lend it to you for now, just remember to pay me back later. With that, he sent his son to fetch the money. The money that was scraped together filled the box; aside from two small pieces of broken silver, it was all copper coins. The enforcers didnt disdain them and stuffed the copper coins into a bag after counting them. However, after tossing the broken silver pieces, one said, These pieces of silver can be exchanged for more than this amount of copper coins. You should be aware that in the money exchange, an ounce of silver can now be exchanged for twelve strings of cash. So... Zhou Dalang strode forward and kicked Zhou Silang, demanding, Were you gambling with copper coins or with silver? Copper coins, it was copper coins. Zhou Dalang clenched his fist and punched him, furiously asking, Was it copper, was it copper? Zhou Silangs face was bruised and swollen, with blood dripping from his nose as he wailed repeatedly, It was copper, it was definitely copper. Zhou Dalang, unrelenting, continued to punch him in the face, his expression livid as he demanded, Is it copper, is it really copper? Zhou Silang cried out for his parents, It is copper, big brother, it really is copper. Theyre deceiving you, they are just deceiving you all. Seeing that Zhou Dalang was spare no effort in beating Zhou Silang until he was in such a state, the enforcers felt embarrassed, pocketed the broken silver pieces, and nodded, Fine, lets settle with copper coins then. After saying this, they turned to leave. Zhou Erlang blocked their way and demanded, What about the IOU? One of the enforcers pursed his lips dismissively, handed the IOU to him, and patted his shoulder, You people cant afford to gamble. Better keep a close eye on your own brother, or next time, luck might not be so kind. There are plenty of families driven to ruin and death because of gambling in this world. The Zhou brothers all glared at Zhou Silang disapprovingly. Zhou Silang cowered on the ground, and seeing the looks from his brothers, buried his head and dared not even cry too loudly. The enforcers finally left. Old Zhou and his eldest son managed a strained smile as they sent the villagers off, thanking them for their help, especially the village head, repeatedly saying they would treat him to a meal when they found the time. After everyone was sent away, Old Zhou told Zhou Xiaoliu to close the door, then turned around, picked up a bamboo pole, and continued to thrash his son. Fearing her daughter would be frightened, Ms. Qian took her back to the room ahead of time. But it wasnt very effective; the child kicked off her shoes, climbed onto her own bed, and watched from the window as her father beat her fourth brother, clearly finding it intriguing. Ms. Qian was not feeling well, and after such an ordeal, she was both heartbroken and exhausted. Not stopping her daughter, she instructed her daughters-in-law to prepare something to eat in the kitchen. From morning to now, they had not eaten a single grain of rice. Though adults might endure it, the children couldnt. Once everything was arranged, she called her daughter over and put the silver lock on her, saying, Didnt I tell you not to take it off? This is for suppressing your fate that your parents have given you. From now on, dont take it off again, understand? Manbao sulkily replied, Its uncomfortable to wear. Ms. Qian thought for a moment and then said, You may not wear it at night, but you must during the day. Manbao reluctantly agreed, and, seeing her mothers sorrowful face, asked, Mother, what about Fourth Brother? Dont mind him. Let your father beat him; only then his life might improve for a few years. Hes learned to gamble and destroy his family. He deserves to be beaten to death. Manbao said, If hes going to be beaten to death, might as well let the gambling house people do it, we would save money that way. Ms. Qian was taken aback and said, You child, you speak just like your father. Not sparing anyone with your words. Eh? Is my father that clever? Ms. Qian ignored this question and instead remarked, Regardless, he must be beaten. Without a lesson, he wont learn. If this happens again, how much money does the family have to waste on him? Fourth Brother doesnt learn from beatings; its useless, even if he were beaten to disability. Unless his legs are broken so he cant walk. No, well still need to take care of him in the future, said Ms. Qian, also fearing that Old Zhou would harm their son too severely. Sighing, she shouted out the window, Enough! If you disable him, well have to pay for medical expenses, and we dont have a single penny left at home. The slapping sounds outside gradually ceased, and Old Zhou, frustrated at his sons failure to meet expectations, kicked him and then ordered the eldest and the second brother to drag him back to his room. In the house, Manbao shared with her mother, Mother, I have a good idea. It can punish him without costing our family any money. What is it? Ms. Qian inquired. Let Fourth Brother clear new land. Then let him plant things on the wasteland. Whatever money he earns could be used to pay back the family and his brothers-in-law. He owes fifteen taels of silver to the family and his brothers-in-law. Ms. Qian was puzzled, Clear new land? How did you come up with the idea of clearing land? Manbao responded, Isnt it what the village chief elder brother mentioned? The government office is letting us open new land. Whatever land we clear will be ours, and for the first three years, they wont even collect taxes on it. Chapter 6 - 6 3 System ?6: Chapter 3: System 6: Chapter 3: System Ms. Qian stroked her head and said, Clearing wasteland is not so easy, and the food grown on fallow land may not even be enough to pay the tax. Your nephews are still young, and the land we have is enough to cultivate. Then what should we do? Four committed such a big mistake, and we cant just kill him. What if hes idle again and goes off gambling? Ms. Qian pondered. If she didnt punish Silang for making such a big mistake, the other sons and daughters-in-law would surely be dissatisfied. But if she really hurt him, whether she was willing to do that was another matter. Besides, treating his injuries would require money, and that would be truly painful. Ms. Qian said, Alright, tomorrow let your Four start to clear the land. Only then did Manbao cheer up. I will supervise Four. I think you just want to go out and play. The fields are full of snakes and bugs. You should not join the bustle. Just let your eldest nephew and the others follow him, Ms. Qian replied. Manbao: No, I want to go too. Before, she thought her family was pretty goodno lack of food or clothes. On market days, she always had candy to eat, although she wasnt particularly fond of sweets. Therefore, she had only wanted to learn characters, feeling that reading brought her joy. But Keke had no books to give her, only candy. She had tasted it; those candies, though sweeter than what Second Brother brought from the market, still didnt appeal to her much. But now she knew their family was still very poor. She needed to earn money. Since she was still young, she couldnt work the land or go out to work, so selling candy was the only way for her to earn money. However, because she was always lazy and wouldnt dig vegetables for Keke, Keke had stopped giving her any candy to eat for a long time. Right, Keke suddenly appeared in her mind last spring when, at last, she had completely memorized the Thousand Character Classic. Mr. Zhuang, moved, had given her a stack of his handwritten manuscript of the Classic. Overjoyed, she ran home with the manuscript, and as soon as she got home, Keke appeared, saying it was a branch of the Encyclopedia, in charge of the Biology section, and had been accidentally left behind here. It needed to collect many biological species to exchange for energy to leave at the Encyclopedia. At first, Manbao didnt understand and thought she had made a friend. She happily told her mother about it. But Ms. Qian had thought she was a child dreaming and had humored her for a while. Manbao was smart and gradually understood that no one else could see or hear Keke, so she stopped mentioning it, pretending that this friend was visible and audible only to her. Keke kept asking her to collect more plants, but Manbao had already dug up all the vegetables in the garden for it to collect, even the grass outside the house had been dug up, and going to distant places was too tiring; she didnt want to go at all. For her friends sake, she reluctantly looked for some unfamiliar grass for Keke. However, her family was always worried about her running around outside, and while her nephews and nieces could go out to play, she was always accompanied by her sister-in-law. She could only play within the village; she was definitely not allowed to leave the village, let alone go to the fields. Manbao nagged her mother, almost to the point of throwing a tantrum on the ground. Ms. Qian, exhausted in body and soul, seeing her daughter like this and thinking that she was at the age to enjoy playing, couldnt bear to keep her confined all the time and reluctantly nodded, Alright, alright, go then. But you must listen to Wulang and Liulang, dont run around carelessly, and dont stay out in the sun for too long, understand? Manbao happily agreed. That evening, she even had a full bowl of rice, and together with Fifth Brother, Sixth Brother, and her nephews and nieces, they rushed to finish all the vegetables. Apart from these few children who were oblivious, the appetite of the adults was really not good. It was not easy for the family to have saved a little money, but overnight they were back to abject poverty, so one could hardly expect them to feel good. Old Zhou could only stomach a chopstick-full of rice, feeling for the first time that the grain was suffocating and he couldnt swallow it. The thought of those fifteen silver taels made his heart clench and ache, his eyes reddened with pain, until he finally couldnt help but smash the bowl and go give his fourth son another beating to feel better. Zhou Dalang and his brothers, after their father had beaten Four, didnt feel right to follow suit, just sourly shoveled food into their mouths. Ms. Qian and her daughters-in-law were eating porridge together. With autumn harvest past, aside from the men, only Manbao could have dry rice to eat; the rest all had porridge. However, the porridge was also quite thick and could at least fill them up. But after putting down her chopstick, Ms. Qian said, We dont have a penny left in the house, and living this way makes me anxious. Starting tomorrow, we wont make dry food, only porridge. Eldests wife, put less rice from now on. Winter is coming, and after winter theres still spring and summer to get through. Chapter 7 - 7 3 System_2 ?7: Chapter 3 System_2 7: Chapter 3 System_2 Junior Ms. Qian bowed her head in agreement. After glancing at Manbao, she asked, What about the little girl? Shes weak. Does she also eat gruel? Ms. Qian frowned and said, Tomorrow, take six jin of grain to the school and ask Eldest to plead with Mr. Zhuang. Manbao will have lunch at school from now on. The vegetables will be bought from our own vegetable garden. Youll just need to cut a couple more each day to take there. Junior Ms. Qian agreed and swiftly finished eating before helping the sisters-in-law clean up the bowls and chopsticks. Manbao felt this wasnt good and asked, Mother, what about Daya and the others? Ms. Qian stretched out her hand to stroke her head, smiling as she said, Daya and the others are healthy, they dont need to eat solid food. Your health is poor, so you need to eat more, otherwise if you get sick, the family will have to spend money on medicine for you. Daya and Datou had been instilled with this idea from a young age. Their grandparents and parents told them since they were little that the little girl was weak. They must not push her or bully her. They should let her eat a bit more to fatten her up so she wouldnt get sick. Otherwise, if she got sick, they would have to spend money on medicine, and then they wouldnt have money to buy candy. So from a young age, they had no objections to the little girl eating solid food with Grandpa and Dad while they drank gruel. Moreover, the little girl was quite good to them. Although younger, she always gave them candy. As for the little girl, they were quite fond of her. So now, when Grandma looked over, they quickly nodded their heads, indicating, Little girl, you eat more, well just eat gruel at home. There are still some stalks of grain in the fields, well go get them later to roast and eat. No, we have to help Silang clear the fields tomorrow, Manbao said. But we can go look for wild fruits to eat. Zhou looked at Manbao, Clearing the fields? Ms. Qian said, I forgot to tell you, tomorrow well let Four go clear the fields. He owes the family money, and he always needs to do some work to earn it. Zhou didnt think clearing fields would earn much, but it was still good; it would keep the youngster from being idle and thinking about gambling. It was better to find some work for him to do. Thus, he said, Five, Sixth, follow him tomorrow. If he slacks off, beat him for me. Manbao volunteered bravely, Dad, Ill do it. Fifth Brother and Sixth definitely cant beat up Four. Zhou laughed, extended his hand, and patted her head, saying with a smile, Alright, you do it. If Four doesnt listen, you take a stick and beat him. Manbao was as happy as if she had received an imperial edict. She went to sleep early that night and promised Keke in her mind that tomorrow she would definitely help it find plants they hadnt found before. She also demanded, You must prepare more candy for me, I need to sell it. The system was nearly driven crazy. The plants Manbao had recorded coming in were very common. After more than a year, no profit was seen, and it had to exchange the few remaining points for candy to give her. There was no choice; she was just a child. If there werent candies to entice her, she wouldnt bother playing this game with it. Indeed, Manbao always treated this as a game and never thought of using it to reach the pinnacle of life or achieve some extraordinary life goal. After more than a year, the systems ambition had been nearly worn away. Fortunately, it was bound to a host. Even without energy to support leaving this space to return to the original plane, it could still maintain operation. It only needed to wait until the host grew a bit older. That was the systems consolation to itself. At worst, the worst-case scenario would be to choose another host with greater ambition after the hosts death. The system quietly assessed its remaining points, calculating how much candy it could exchange for her. Manbao, thinking she had made a deal with Keke, pulled her little quilt over herself, closed her eyes, and slept soundly. The next day, not long after the rooster crowed, there were sounds in the courtyard. Manbao turned over, burrowing her little bottom under the covers to continue sleeping. Rural families always rose early. Even though the autumn harvest had ended, the fields still needed to be tended to. Moreover, Zhou Dalang, Zhou Er, and Zhou San were all working for Landlord Bai; they, too, needed to be on their way. When the courtyard was filled with howling and slapping sounds, Manbao finally got up, rubbing her eyes. Her cheeks were rosy as she pushed open the window. Watching her father drag Four out of the house, kicked his backside, and urged him to get out and work, she suddenly remembered what she had promised Keke the night before. She couldnt concern herself with sleeping anymore. Manbao immediately got out of bed, dressed quickly, and ran out, shouting, Four, wait for me. Im coming with you. Ms. Qian grabbed her and said, Dont rush, wash your face first. Breakfast wouldnt be early; they had to wait until the sun was high in the sky. Junior Ms. Qian sent the girl to wash her face and poured her a bowl of hot water. After that, she took an egg, beat it into the water, and gave it to her to drink. Manbao drank the egg water with a look of disgust and then ran off to catch up with Four. Wulang and the others were standing at the gate waiting for her. The egg water in the morning was Manbaos privilege, not even Zhou or Ms. Qian had it. It was said that when the girl almost died of illness, she survived on egg water. Since then, she consistently had one egg, and her share would never be missing, no matter whose share was short. The family didnt expect Zhou Silang to clear out any good land, so aside from Zhou Silang himself, they just sent a bunch of the kids to help him out. Like Wulang, Liulang, the first familys Datou and Daya, as well as the second familys Erya and Second Son. Wulang was fourteen this year, Liulang twelve, both already sizeable lads. According to the village saying, they could already discuss marriage and in a few years, theyd be able to have big healthy sons of their own. Datou and Second Son were Manbaos nephews, one nine and the other six, while Daya and Erya were her nieces, one eight and the other seven years old. The first family also had a Third Son, a nephew of the same age as Manbao. He really wanted to go today, but his mother held him back; he needed to take Sanya and Fourth Son to pull weeds in the vegetable garden. Sanya was from the second family, and Fourth Son was from the third family, both very young, just four years old. Since the road was rough, they could only stay at home and pull weeds. The mountain roads were rugged, difficult for Manbao to walk, so Wulang and Liulang took turns carrying her. There was no use thinking about Four; he was injured and just managing to walk to the field was an accomplishment. Chapter 8 - 8 4 Indian goosegrass ?8: Chapter 4: Indian goosegrass 8: Chapter 4: Indian goosegrass The folks in Qili Village had a total of sixty-eight households, occupying a vast ... well, hillside, which they could clear as they pleased. However, there was little uncultivated land on the plains, and what was there tended to have more rocks and poor soil quality, which made the hillside a better option for cultivation. So, Zhou Silang shouldered his hoe and sickle and headed for the hillside, planning to stand at a high vantage point with a far-reaching view, and clear whichever patch he found to his liking. Zhou Silang was being willful in his thinking, but would Manbao agree? Of course not!!! Manbao was carried to the mountain top where Zhou Silang looked around and pointed to a side on the hill with the least amount of grass, saying, Lets clear a patch there. No way! Manbao rejected the idea without a second thought, pointing to another section on the slope, I want to clear that patch. Zhou Silang looked over and saw that not only was the grass there lush, standing as tall as Manbao herself, but there were also many low shrubs. One could easily guess the difficulty in digging out those roots, and he immediately refused, No, that patch is not as easy to clear as this one. But because there was a lot of grass there, and some small trees, potentially something Keke would like, and considering she wanted to trade them for candies with Keke, Manbao insisted, I want to clear that patch. Her reasoning was sound, Look how good the grass there is growing, and there are trees too. Vegetables and melons will also grow well there in the future. Now look at the patch you chose, theres only a bit of grass, and its not growing nearly as well as the one I chose. Oh, and there are stones too. Grasses hate stones the most, and I bet beans and melons do too. Zhou Silang became unhappy, Who is it thats actually clearing the land, you or me? Manbao stood with her hands on her hips, You are, but you have to listen to me, otherwise, when I go back Ill tell Dad that you deliberately chose a bad piece of land to be lazy, and let Dad beat you up. Zhou Silang was so angry he could hardly stand it, yet he couldnt ignore her, because their dad would certainly listen to Manbao. Feeling the bruises on his body, Zhou Silang could only snort in irritation, Fine, well clear that patch, lets go. Zhou Wulang was about to carry her when Manbao thought for a moment and then waved her hand, No need to carry me, I can walk down by myself, Fourth Brother, you go ahead and start clearing. Zhou Silang was incredibly annoyed, You short pumpkin, how are you going to walk down? Wont Wulang have to watch over you by your side? So what, Liulang can stay too. No can do, they still need to help me with the clearing. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang however, didnt fancy working either, and shook their heads in unison, Mom told us before going out that we had to take good care of our little sister. Fourth Brother, you go cut the grass first. You only brought a sickle, so theres no use in us going down. Zhou Silang was taken aback, You didnt bring sickles? Zhou Wulang laughed, We were supposed to carry Manbao, how could we have spare hands to carry sickles? Zhou Silang then looked towards Datou and Daya, and Datou quickly said, We thought the uncles had brought them, so we didnt bring any. Zhou Silang then ordered Datou, You go back and get the sickles now, quickly. Datou replied, Well have to go back for breakfast soon, and we can bring them after eating, too. If we go back now, we wont be able to get much work done anyway, Fourth Uncle. Why dont we accompany the little miss slowly down, and you go cut the grass. Everyone else joined in, Exactly, just go ahead, Fourth Uncle (Fourth Brother). Zhou Silang felt like everyone had turned against him, and the ringleader was none other than Manbao. Manbao, fiercer than him, snapped, Get going, or Ill tell Dad when we go back for lunch, and say that you were being lazy. Zhou Silang shouldered his hoe and sickle and walked off. Contented, Manbao trotted down the mountain path, plucking grass and picking flowers occasionally. Wulang, Liulang, Datou, and Daya, who were all used to playing in the mountains, saw their little sister obediently walking the path and took the opportunity to run wild and play. They picked beautiful wildflowers, sought out edible wild fruits to pluck, and could spend half a day watching an anthill, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Manbao diligently dug out a fistful of grass and wiped her face, asking Keke in her mind, Do you want this one? Kekes voice carried a hint of helplessness, Host, you recorded this Indian goosegrass a long time ago. Manbao was skeptical, Did I? How come I dont remember? The system then retrieved the Indian goosegrass that Manbao had recorded, complete with its ecological characteristics, habitats, reproduction methods, and main values, listing everything clearly. Manbao, who loved reading, was excited at the sight of the text, Where did these words come from? The system explained, Indian goosegrass still exists in the world of my creator. This information is from the encyclopedia. Once you record it, any knowledge contained in the encyclopedia will be shown after the recorded plants details. Chapter 9 - 9 4 Indian goosegrass_2 ?9: Chapter 4: Indian goosegrass_2 9: Chapter 4: Indian goosegrass_2 The system paused before speaking, Host, I think even if you cant find extinct or rare species from the era of my creator, you should at least find some precious or valuable plants to record. That way, if more people click to download, we can get more points, and I can get you more candy. Honestly, after following Manbao for over a year, aside from three types of plants that had been downloaded by others, no one paid attention to the rest, and the download rate for those three plants wasnt high either. He was basically using his own points to exchange for candy for Manbao. Yet Manbao was not disappointed. She was engrossed in the analysis of Indian goosegrass. She had long since memorized the Thousand Character Classic, and on the day she acquired the system, which was also the day she got the manuscript of the Thousand Character Classic, she recited and learned to recognize characters daily. Now, she might not be able to write many of the words, but she could recognize them. So throughout the text, Manbao recognized most of it. For the words she didnt know, she didnt hesitate to ask Keke. The system always answered any questions. The key was that Manbao was quite cute, after all. Who could bear to refuse such an adorable four-year-old child? No, Manbao always insisted that she was six years old this year. Hmm, by the traditional counting of age. Manbao finished reading but still didnt understand the meaning. However, she didnt ask about everything, only the topics she was interested in, What does it mean here when it says Indian goosegrass can dispel wind and dampness, clear heat and detoxify, and disperse blood stasis and stop bleeding? Keke: Its just as it says. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that eating grains and being influenced by the environment, there are damp and heat toxins in the body. For example, when someone is overheated, they can drink Indian goosegrass soup to dispel wind and dampness, clear heat and detoxify. As for dispersing blood stasis and stopping bleeding, thats even simpler. If someone falls and bleeds, you can crush it and apply it to the wound to stop the bleeding. It can be taken orally as well. Manbao exclaimed, Wow, this grass is so precious. No, I have to dig up more to bring home. Manbao grabbed the grass and pulled hard, exerting a lot of effort before she could uproot it. The system also thought this grass was quite good, so it secretly encouraged Manbao and even thought of a method for her, You can use the vines nearby to tie them up, and then you can carry them back home. Manbao felt this made a lot of sense and dug up quite a lot of Indian goosegrass. When Wulang and Liulang came over with a handful of wild fruits, her face and hands were covered in mud, and she was drenched in sweat. Both young men were stunned and rushed over to ask, Little sister, what are you doing? Manbaos eyes sparkled as she said, Fifth Brother, Sixth Brother, come quickly and help, I found a great medicinal herb. The two young men looked and when they saw the wild grass in her hand, they felt somewhat speechless, Isnt this just a weed? Its everywhere on the ground. Its not! This is called Indian goosegrass. It can detoxify and stop bleeding, Manbao instructed her brothers. Quick, help me pull. Wulang immediately took the wild grass from her hand, threw it away, and cleaned her hands, saying, Stop being silly. Come on, weve found roseleaf bramble. Try one and see. After he put a bright red fruit into Manbaos mouth, sweet and fragrant, Manbaos eyes lit up, forgetting about the Indian goosegrass on the ground, I want more! The system was also excited, This is a plant that has never been recorded before. Manbao, you must record it, I just checked, and theres no picture of this kind of fruit in the system. Without a picture, even if the scientific name was recorded, supplementing it with pictures would still net them a substantial point reward, granted by the encyclopedia. If more people clicked to view the picture, theyd get even more points. Indeed, encouraging the host to go out more often was the right strategy. The system said, Manbao, quickly record it, preferably the entire plant. Manbao, while stuffing wild fruits into her mouth, asked her brothers, What fruit is this? How come Ive never eaten it before? Where did you pick it? Wulang and Liulang replied, You havent eaten it? Theres a lot on the mountain. On Tomb-Sweeping Day, there were loads. Now there are fewer, but if you like it, next year Ill take you up the mountain to eat. Manbao felt her brothers were missing the point and asked, Where did you pick it from? Weve picked them clean, there are none left. Lets head down the mountain, or Eldest Brother will get angry. Manbao put her hands on her hips in frustration, I want to see what it looks like. Next time Ill know how to pick wild fruits. Wulang laughed upon hearing this, Thats not difficult. Just follow this road downhill, and there are plenty beside it. They just dont have fruits now. Well teach you to recognize it in a bit. Only then did Manbao realize that when her brothers said the mountains were full of them, they werent lying to her, there really were plenty. Liulang carried her down the mountain for a while, then Wulang pointed to a green vine with many thorns by the roadside and said, Look, thats roseleaf bramble. As soon as spring warms up, it starts flowering. After the flowers bloom, it bears fruit. Once it turns red, it becomes really delicious. Next Tomb-Sweeping Day, well bring you up to pick it. However, Liulang had a different opinion, I think the yellow ones taste better. Theyre firm and sour, have much more flavor than the red ones. Wulang scorned him, The red ones are the tasty ones. We all say red ones taste better. Liulang: Clearly its the yellow ones. Wulang: Its the red ones. Liulang: Yellow ones! Wulang: Red ones! When Manbao saw her brothers arguing, she couldnt comment since she hadnt tasted the yellow ones. She slid down from Liulangs back and crouched to look at the vines. Wulang and Liulang only glanced at their sister, seeing that she was just curiously staring, and turned their heads to continue arguing, or rather, debating. Manbao quietly asked Keke in her mind, Should I dig up the entire vine, or just tear off a piece for you? After pondering, the system responded, If you can dig up the entire thing, thats best, but if thats not convenient, a segment will do. Chapter 10 - 10 5 Integration ?10: Chapter 5 Integration 10: Chapter 5 Integration Manbao squatted there, searching for a shorter vine. Datou and Daya had also come over. Seeing Fifth Uncle and Sixth Uncle quarreling, Datou and Second Son joined in, while Daya squatted beside Manbao, asking her what she was looking for. Upon learning that she wanted to dig up a small roseleaf bramble, they all enthusiastically helped her search. They quickly found a roseleaf bramble that hadnt been growing for long, dug around it with sticks, and soon pulled it out, although the root was too lengthy and snapped off a section. But no one really minded. Manbao held it in her hand. Since it was young and had not grown thorns yet, everyone was comfortable letting her hold it. This kind of thing was a common activity for them. Daya somehow acquired a bunch of wildflowers to wear in her hair and asked her younger aunt, Do I look pretty? Manbao stared blankly at her, finding it difficult to say it looked pretty, but not wanting to hurt her grandnieces feelings, she nodded and said, The flowers are pretty. Daya was delighted and joyfully hopped off with Erya. At the foot of the mountain, Manbao slid off Wulangs back and prised a snake berry from his hand. She didnt eat it but handed everything to Keke as she walked along. More than a year had passed, and with Kekes reminders, Manbao had long learned how to sneak things away to hide for him. The group of youngsters never noticed this little action, and the wildflowers on Dayas head were also gone without anyone knowing when she discarded them. As everyone walked on, Wulang exclaimed, looking around curiously, How come we dont see Silang? Wasnt that the place little sister pointed at up the mountain? Everyone looked all around, and Datou shouted in surprise, Fourth Uncle has disappeared! Wait, listen ... Daya hushed everyone, urging them to be quiet, and thats when they heard faint snoring sounds. Right next to Manbao, she was the first to push through the bushes and saw Zhou SiLang lying on the grass, sleeping soundly. Manbao was quite angry, charging over and stomping on his chest, but Zhou SiLang still didnt wake up. Just as Manbao was about to stomp harder, Datou had already picked a blade of wild grass and squatted beside Zhou SiLang, tickling his nose with it. Manbao, curious, stopped stomping on her brother and squatted next to Datou to ask, Does that work? Datou ran the wild grass across Manbaos face, asking, Little aunt, does it tickle? Unable to resist scratching her face, Manbao exclaimed eagerly, It tickles, let me do it! Taking the blade of grass from Datou, she tried it out on Zhou SiLangs face. The others gathered around, each pulling a blade of wild grass to join in on Zhou SiLangs face. Then, he just waved a hand and turned over to continue sleeping. This lack of reaction made Manbao unhappy, so she threw the grass away and stopped playing. Directing her voice into Zhou SiLangs ear, she yelled, Snake~~~ Ah Zhou SiLang sat up in an instant, hopping and spinning on the spot, Wheres the snake, wheres the snake? Manbao glared at him, Silang, father asked you to clear the land, but you are here sleeping. Im going to tell father to thrash you. Zhou SiLang, seeing his chubby little sister, couldnt resist the itch in his hands, squeezed her cheek, and said, What can you do besides tattling? Wulang immediately knocked his hand away, Silang, youre bullying little sister. Manbao, feeling her cheek pinch painfully and tears welling up, stepped on Zhou SiLangs foot, grinding her heel in, I can do more than tattle; I can hit you. Do you dare to hit back? Zhou SiLang, indeed, did not dare! Zhou SiLang was so angry his nose was about to twitch, and seeing Manbao get the upper hand, she snorted coldly, Go and do your work clearing the weeds, Silang. Do you know Im helping you? Manbao, having learned a lot of words and language from Keke, started giving a lecture,Mother said our family has saved money for three years and doesnt even have fifteen taels. That money was supposed to be for yours and Wulangs marriage, but you squandered all of it and now owe money to Second Sister-in-law, Third Sister-in-law, and the village chiefs older brother. You need to pay all of it back! You might not be getting married, but Wulang definitely needs a wife. And what about Second Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law? Was it easy for them to save any money? You have no other skills; apart from farming to repay the debt, what else can you do? Zhou WuLangs face turned slightly red, but he still puffed up his chest, Silang, Im fourteen now, and Ill be discussing marriage in two years. How much money can you repay to the family? Zhou SiLang was dumbfounded, All that money, I have to pay it back? Of course, who else lost it gambling? Remembering the neighbors niece who had been sold off, anger welled up in Manbao, her gaze turned cold as she waited for Zhou SiLang to respond, A person who doesnt stop gambling should have their hands and feet chopped off and be thrown into the mountains to feed wolves. That way, they wont bring disaster to others. Chapter 11 - 11 5 Integration_2 ?11: Chapter 5 Integration_2 11: Chapter 5 Integration_2 Zhou SiLang couldnt help but retreat two steps, his body slightly cold, and with trembling fingers, he pointed at the little imp, You, how can you be so heartless; I am your Fourth Uncle after all! But Daya, Erya, and Sanya are all my nieces. If you gamble again, and our family fails to pay the debt, those people from the gambling den will come and take them away. Once theyre gone, it will be my turn, as well as Datou and Second Sons. After selling off nieces and nephews, even Big Brother and the others will have to spend a lifetime paying off your debts. Although you are a relative, you are just one person, and we cant let so many of our loved ones suffer because of you, so... Daya and Datou, along with the others, hadnt thought of these things before. Now, hearing what their little aunt said, they all started looking at Zhou SiLang with some hostility. Even Wulang and Liulang couldnt hold back and stepped forward to intimidate Zhou SiLang. Zhou SiLang hurriedly waved his hands and said, Manbao, dont talk nonsense. Ive made up my mind to change and will never gamble again. Manbao just snorted coldly, Lets see your determination then. Yes, lets see the determination! So Zhou SiLang had no choice but to pick up a sickle and cut the grass under the watchful eyes of everyone, while the other people surrounded him, occasionally giving directions, Fourth Uncle, theres a lot of grass here, cut this area! Fourth Brother, the soil is thicker here, hurry and cut this area. Manbao, under the guidance of Daya and Erya, picked a lot of flowers, and they even made her a wreath to wear on her head. Daya and Erya sincerely exclaimed, Little Aunt, you look so pretty! Manbao happily replied, Of course, you are pretty as well. Zhou SiLang listened and watched, fuming inside, Why dont you come help? How long will it take just me to clear this land? Manbao felt she was quite diligent and immediately led some people forward to help. Seeing Manbao take action, the others also rolled up their sleeves and pitched in. Zhou Wu took over the sickle, tasked with cutting grass, Datou took care of transporting it away, while Zhou Wu worked with Zhou SiLang using a hoe to dig up the shrubs in the ground. Manbao led the rest to collect stones, picking out stones, dead wood, and so on from the grass and placing them around the field as a boundary, while the dead wood was set aside to be carried back home for firewood later. Clearing the land was genuinely tough, with all sorts of obstacles in the ground, and they had to be careful not to get pricked while cutting the grass. The system saw this and sighed slightly, deciding not to ask the host to look for plants for it anymore, maybe tomorrow. It just hoped the host would still be willing to come out the next day. Tired of picking stones, Manbao started a conversation with the system to pass the time, Keke, are there any unrecorded grasses among these? No. Manbao disappointedly said, How did your encyclopedia manage to record so many? Keke explained, These wild grasses are also quite common in the future, and besides, the host might not recognize them anymore. These plants have already been recorded by you, they are just shorter when theyre near your house, and taller here, thats all. Manbao felt a bit embarrassed, So it was me who recorded them. Keke said seriously, Yes, every time you record a new species, you get one reward point. This one point was indeed meant as encouragement. If it werent for her young age and the need for motivation, the system wouldnt have been able to secure even this modest encouragement bonus for her. Even so, it had to allocate some of its own points to buy her candy because her efficiency was simply too low. It was also because the Zhou Family was too indulgent with her. The other children in the family were left to fend for themselves, from the age of two when they could walk, they were allowed to run around the village under the care of older children, as long as they stayed away from the waters edge. But not Manbao. She was always accompanied by someone. While her cousins rolled around in the mud, she would be sitting cleanly dressed on the kang at home, being taught how to speak. When her cousins had to weed and sow the fields, she would be taken to the school to eat parched rice. You could say that the farthest place she had ever been to was the large banyan tree at the entrance of the village, and this was her first time up the mountain. The reason she could go to the big banyan tree was that Old Zhou, having nothing to do during the New Year festivities, would take his little girl to sit under the tree and chat with old buddies. Of course, only Manbao received this kind of treatment in the family, because when she went around, she always managed to collect a penny or two as New Years money. The plants in the village were all common, and whenever she saw one, she would pull it out to offer to the system. That year, the system spent all its time just identifying plants for her, even though it had just identified the same plant a second before, and then the next second, she would pull up another one just like it, causing the system to collapse internally. Thankfully, Manbao now knew to directly ask the system if there were any new plants that needed to be recorded instead of presenting it with handfuls of wild grass to identify one by one and then hearing the systems reluctant explanation that those plants had already been recorded. Manbao felt moving stones was also tiring. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her small hand and asked the system, Keke, you are so strange. Why do you need to record these wild grasses? Look, we have to get rid of them, they are so annoying. How long will it take to clear this land? Its because the technology of the hosts world isnt advanced enough. In the future, clearing the land will be easily handled by a machine in just one pass. Not only that, but the number of these wild grasses will have greatly diminished, and some species will even be extinct and no longer exist, which is why I was created. Manbao, however, was surprised and opened her mouth wide, So many grasses, trees, stones, all cleared with just one pass by a machine? Whats a machine, and can I buy one? The system was silent for a moment before responding, You cant. The level of technology in those machines far exceeds the technology of your world, so they cannot be purchased. Besides, even if they could be bought, you wouldnt have enough points, host. Manbao blinked her eyes, once again realizing the importance of these points. She had always thought points werent very useful; werent they just for exchanging candy? Without points, she could still eat candy, as every time her Second Brother or father went to the market, they would buy her some. Chapter 12 - 12 6 Idea ?12: Chapter 6: Idea 12: Chapter 6: Idea The little friends worked together until the sun rose high in the sky, and they were all so hungry that they could hardly move. Guessing that it was time for breakfast, they picked up their things and headed home. Zhou Wulang still squatted down to carry Manbao on his back. However, Manbao felt sorry for him, since he was now both dirty and sweaty, not to mention smelly, so she insisted on walking back by herself. After thinking it over, and since the way home was mostly flat, Zhou Wulang figured that Manbao should be able to walk, and that his mother probably wouldnt scold him if she saw them; thus, he led Manbao home by hand with peace of mind. On the way, they encountered many villagers returning home to eat breakfast from the fields, with the Zhou family being the hot topic in the village, especially Zhou Silang. When people saw them, they first looked at Zhou Silangs backside with concern, then solemnly advised, Silang, you really mustnt gamble. Its the kind of thing that can ruin a family. Silang, youre still young. You cant make this kind of mistake again. ... Zhou Silangs face turned green as each person they met gave him a lecture. He didnt reply, Wulang and Liulang also felt embarrassed, but Manbao, being young, didnt feel the shame. Moreover, she truly thought that the advice from these uncles and brothers was all too correct. So she agreed all along the way, Sixth Uncle is right, if you see my Fourth Brother sneaking into the gambling den again, you should punish him on my fathers behalf. When he comes back, my father will surely treat you to a big meat meal. Isnt that the truth, Dazhu brother? Next time we go to the county town, you keep an eye on my Silang. If he doesnt behave, just tie him up and bring him back. My mother will surely thank you for it, she declared. When Silang kept a stern face without speaking, Manbao even slapped his hand, chiding, No manners! Dont you see the uncles and brothers talking to you? Are you not truly repentant? Still thinking about gambling? Zhou Silang could only respond with a sobbing expression, saying thank you to anyone who scolded or lectured him. Seeing this, the villagers privately felt that perhaps Silang truly had turned over a new leaf. After all, he was still young and might succumb to temptation. So those who had previously thought of proposing a match but had dismissed the idea were now reconsidering. If Silang could reform himself, he would indeed be a fine young manstrong, good at work, with many promising brothers. Indeed, the villagers unanimously thought highly of the three Zhou brothers who were already married; they worked hard on the farm, were industrious, and would help out at Landlord Bais whenever they had a chance to earn some money. Besides, Old Zhou and Ms. Qian were both first-class hard workers, so by that logic, Silang was not likely to be bad either. The villagers looked at Zhou Silang with a touch more tolerance. Zhou Silang didnt notice this goodwill, as he was soon tasked by his mother with chopping firewood as soon as he got home. Since the autumn harvest had ended, the family needed to prepare wood for the winter. Usually, such tasks were managed by the three older brothers, with the heavy labor of chopping wood always being Third Brothers job because he was strong. The younger, unmarried ones were responsible for gathering firewood on the mountain and storing the chopped wood in the shed. But, because Zhou Silang had lost money gambling, Ms. Qian and Old Zhou had discussed and reassigned the firewood chopping to him as a form of punishment and as an example to the other sons and daughters-in-law. With many children in the household and fingers of different lengths, Ms. Qian couldnt treat everyone equally. But she had to maintain appearances, or else if one started to complain, the peace of the household would be disturbed. Old Zhou sat on the threshold, frowning as he watched his fourth son fetch the axe, and only then did he hum and look away. Seeing his little daughter, his face lit up with a smile, Manbao, youre back. Did you have fun? Manbao nodded happily. It was fun, Daddy! The mountain is really nice with lots of flowers and grass. I want to go back in the afternoon! The sun will be too strong in the afternoon. You stay home and take a nap. Let Silang and the others go, Old Zhou said. If you like flowers, have your eldest niece pick some for you. You cant get sunburned, or youll have to take medicine. Thinking of the black juice her mother had to drink, Manbao scrunched up her nose, scrunching her little face as if tasting bitterness. Old Zhou laughed heartily at the sight, feeling a bit better. He told his daughter to sit inside the house, as breakfast would be ready shortly. Farmers typically eat breakfast after a round of morning farm work, partaking in only two meals a day. One meal at late morning and another at late afternoon. After dinner, they tidy up, and once it gets dark, its time to sleep. The adults followed this schedule, but not the children. In summer and autumn, when the days are longer, the household would usually cook some porridge in the evening to ensure the children did not go to bed hungry. Manbao entered the legitimate wifes room where Ms. Qian, not feeling well after the fright and anger from the previous day had left her bedridden today. Seeing her daughter covered in bits of grass, she couldnt help but chuckle, You enjoyed yourself, didnt you? Manbao hummed in agreement, sitting demurely at the edge of the bed. Mother, next time theres a market, I want to go with Second Brother. What are you going to do there? I want to learn to do business, she stated. Ms. Qian couldnt help but laugh. You just want to go play, right? After some thought, considering that Manbao missed the temple fair in spring and that the autumn harvest was over, Ms. Qian reasoned that she wouldnt have the opportunity to go out once it got cold. With that thought, she agreed, Have Second Sister-in-law take you. Datou and the others should go as well; they were all scared yesterday. Its good to go out and get some fresh air, calm their minds. As for doing business, Ms. Qian never took such talk seriously, considering it just childs talk. Manbao, however, did not think it was just childs talk. She was quite serious. Thus, after breakfast, she skipped school and rallied her Fifth Brother, Sixth Brother, nephews, and nieces, encouraging them to think and work together. Wulang reached out to touch his sisters forehead. You dont have a fever, so why are you talking nonsense? Liulang laughed, What do we have to sell in our family? Manbao shook her head. Nothing, but there is outside. She pointed outdoors. There are so many pretty grasses and flowers out there, we could sell them. Everyone: ... Even the little ones chimed in, That wont sell! Why not? If the smart and mighty Keke liked these wild grasses and flowers, people outside should also find them appealing, reasoned Manbao. Manbao, authoritative, waved her hand decisively. That settles it, we will go pick flowers and pull up wild grass to sell. As Wulang was about to dissuade her, Liulang pulled him aside and said, Lets do as Manbao says. The little sister has lost her mind, and now you too? he questioned. Liulang: I havent lost my mind, but if we dont listen to her, do you think we can go to the market? Wulang thought about it and found it made sense. The market was quite far from their village, a good half hours walk away. The last time they went was for the spring temple fair. Both brothers immediately signaled to Datou and Daya with knowing looks, and, comprehending the subtext, they all excitedly agreed with Manbao to bring lots of nice wild flowers and grasses to the market day. To heck with it, best to get to the market first and worry about the rest later. Chapter 13 - 13 7 Storybook ?13: Chapter 7 Storybook 13: Chapter 7 Storybook The morning meal was ready, and a flock of children ran outside to take their seats in their designated spots. Sitting at Old Zhous lower seat was Zhou Dalang, while Junior Ms. Qian would ordinarily be sitting opposite him. However, since Manbao was favored, the seat next to Ms. Qian had always been occupied by her. Junior Ms. Qian settled the youngest on a stool and then stood up to distribute the porridge to everyone. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang glanced at the watery porridge, their lips pouting. In the past, breakfast consisted of rice since they had to work during the day, and it was only in the evening that they would have thick porridge. But with their parents present, they dared not voice their discontent. The three older brothers all had solemn faces as they handed their bowls to Junior Ms. Qian, and Zhou Silang looked as though he wished he could bury his head in his chest. Junior Ms. Qian gave Fourth Uncle a glance, took his bowl, and despite the spoon floating to the top, she filled it with porridge. If what everyone else got could still be called porridge, then the contents of Zhou Silangs bowl could only be described as rice soup. Zhou Silang nearly cried out, lifting his head to glance at his sister-in-law. When he met her cold gaze, he looked down, not daring to speak. Manbao looked around and, remembering she would have crispy rice at school for lunch, poured half of her porridge into her father and mothers bowls. Old Zhou and Ms. Qian were so touched they didnt bother to scold Junior Ms. Qian, repeatedly praising Manbao, Our daughter really is thoughtful, knowing how to show us respect. Everyone ate their porridge in silence, wanting to show respect, but fearing theyd go hungry. Ms. Qian pushed the porridge back, her eyes crinkling with a smile, Manbao, you eat; your mother doesnt have to work, and Im not hungry. Manbao protested, guarding her bowl, I dont want to eat anymore. My stomach is small; Im already full. Failing to persuade her, Ms. Qian then divided the porridge among her three sons, reminding them, Youre going out to work; eat a little more. If you get hungry on the way, find something to eat first. Once weve paid back the village chief, our familys situation will ease. The three sons responded in unison. Old Zhou glanced at his wife and said, Alright, this is what Manbao gave you, dont give it all to them. Turning to Two, he said, Tomorrow, youll go to the market, take a bag of grain to sell for some money. The money for the village chief isnt urgent. We can pay it back by New Years; you brothers should be able to earn something by then. But your mother needs medicine, we cant have no money at home. Zhou Erlang responded softly in acknowledgment. Seizing the opportunity, Ms. Qian said, Tomorrow, take Manbao and the others with you. Your Second brothers family too, just keep an eye on the children. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang immediately said, Mother, what about us? We can look after Manbao and Datou Daya too. Ms. Qian didnt really want Zhou Wu and Zhou Liu to go and frowned upon hearing this, How is your Fourth brothers barren land coming along? Zhou Wulang had a bad feeling and cursed that he was too far from Manbao to give her a kick, he could only look at her from a distance. Fortunately, Manbao seemed to share a tacit understanding with him, lifting her head to look at her brother and then at their mother before finally saying, Mother, let Fifth Brother and Sixth come with us. Otherwise, I cant manage Datou and the others. Datou immediately looked up, Little aunt, Im even older than you; you dont need to take care of me. Now someone close enough, Zhou Wulang kicked him hard under the table; that stupid kid, always messing things up. Datou cried out with an ow, jumping up and shouting, Mother, Fifth Uncle kicked me! Ms. Qian glared at Zhou Wulang before lightly smacking her simple son, twisting him around and chiding, Hurry up and eat your porridge, youre the only one talking too much. Cant you see your little aunt hasnt said a word? Datou hung his head feeling pitiful. Old Zhou saw everything, and just as he finished his porridge, put down his bowl and said, Let them go, theyre all still children. Datou and Daya are naughty, Seconds family might not be able to watch them. Let Fifth and Sixth go with them. Just dont lose any of the children. Fourth, you continue clearing the land. Old Zhou shot a threatening look at the dejected Zhou Silang who was engrossed in eating and set a deadline, Im giving you one month; if you cant clear one mu of land by then, you dont even deserve the porridge. Zhou Silangs heart was filled with bitterness. As if to twist the knife, Manbao sat down beside him after the meal and asked, Fourth Brother, do you know why youve ended up like this? She answered her question, Its because you gamble! Zhou Silang: ... Manbao sighed like an adult, patting his shoulder and saying, Gamblers are all bad people; even I understand such a simple truth. How come you dont get it? Manbao, were going to school, Junior Ms. Qian packed the vegetables into the basket, intending to carry Manbao on her back in a basket. But Manbao shook her hand with pride, holding her neck high, Big Sister-in-Law, Ive grown up. I dont need to be carried anymore. Chapter 14 - 14 7 Storybook_2 ?14: Chapter 7 Storybook_2 14: Chapter 7 Storybook_2 Junior Ms. Qian couldnt help but laugh, Has our Manbao grown up? Yes, Im six years old now. Feeling indignant at her words, Zhou SiLang promptly reached out and tousled her short hair, mocking, Still six years old, youre not even five yet. Do you even know what a full year means? Manbao, staggered by his shaking, let out a loud yell. Before she could lift her head, Zhou SiLang had released his grip and run off in a puff of smoke, leaving Manbao with her hair in a mess, crying out loud with a wah sound. Junior Ms. Qian was taken aback; her little sister-in-law rarely cried, and hardly ever since she turned one full year old. Seeing her cry so hard all of a sudden, Junior Ms. Qian was stunned for a moment before she went to hold her. Ms. Qian in the room dropped her sewing basket with a snap, agilely jumped out of bed, boots half on, and ran out asking, Whats happened, whats happened, whats wrong with my Baoer? Manbao was feeling a brief moment of grievance. After the first cry, she was almost fine, the unnamed grievances were already fading, but seeing Ms. Qian, for some reason, she felt more upset. She threw herself into her mothers arms, crying and complaining, Mom, Four bullied me. Look what he did to my hair. Ms. Qian immediately smoothed out her messy hair, fuming, she ordered sternly, That little rascal really needs a spanking. He is not getting dinner tonight, let him go hungry. Junior Ms. Qian agreed without hesitation, immediately responding loudly. Ms. Qian, feeling sorry for her daughter, wiped her tears away and said, Alright, no more crying, our Manbao. How about I cook you an egg, would that be good? Junior Ms. Qian then asked, So shes not going to school? No, I will cook eggs for Manbao, cook a meal. Junior Ms. Qian felt a bit pained by the expense, but considering that her little sister-in-law had been provoked to tears, it seemed right to comfort her, so she nodded in agreement. However, Manbao was not willing and pulled away from her mothers embrace, asserting, No, I have to go to school. Her reason was also very valid, Tomorrow I have to go to the market, I wont be able to attend school, I need to tell Mr. Zhuang. Junior Ms. Qian then said, My little sister-in-law, dont worry, Ill tell Mr. Zhuang for you. No, Ill say it myself. And today, I still have to check if Mr. Zhuangs draft is finished; if it is, I need to bring it back. That... Junior Ms. Qian hesitated, looking towards Ms. Qian. Seeing her daughter wasnt sad anymore, Ms. Qian touched her little cheek and smiled, Alright then, if you want to go, you go. Manbao turned around and happily went off to school with Junior Ms. Qian. As soon as the aunt and niece had left, Ms. Qian got up from the ground, her expression darkened, and she said to the two daughters-in-law and two younger sons who were watching, Go catch Four for me. Hes really taken things too far. Out there he can act all high and mighty, lose money gambling, and has the nerve to come back and bully his own family. Following orders, they scattered through the entire village to catch Zhou SiLang. As soon as Manbao got to school, she leaned against the window to listen to Mr. Zhuangs lesson. They were discussing The Analects today. Manbao had heard a bit of it before, but she had never systematically memorized it. This time, Mr. Zhuang was giving a major lesson, and all the children were studying The Analects, starting from the first lesson. Manbao listened for the entire class, but Mr. Zhuangs lesson only involved repeatedly instructing everyone to recite the text without explaining the meaning. Without a book, Manbao just mumbled along vaguely. She had an excellent memory and managed to memorize the text after reading it three or four times, but she didnt know which characters exactly were involved, let alone their meaning. Seeing Mr. Zhuang continuing with this repetitive approach. Ordinarily, Manbao would have eagerly continued along, but today she felt a bit down, somewhat affected and unable to concentrate fully. After memorizing the text, she decided to slip down from the windowsill and sneak off to Mr. Zhuangs yard. Mr. Zhuangs study was always unlocked. It wasnt clear if this was due to habit or to make it easier for a certain child who always snuck in to clean for him. Manbao roamed around the yard and study, finally sitting down on the steps with her chin propped up, daydreaming, actually chatting with the system. Keke, do you think Four hates me now? The system said, Host, no one can always be liked in this world, even money can be disliked by people. But Im not money, Im Fours sister, how can he not like me? The system was silent for a moment, then responded, In this world, its quite normal for fathers to dislike their children, mothers to detest their offspring, and for siblings to resent each other. Thats nonsense, how can there be parents in this world who dont like their children? Arent siblings supposed to love and help one another? Thats only what you wish, the system thought it might be too lonely, which was why it was discussing these topics with its young host, but it believed this foundation was also for his safety and future development. If the host was too naive, then it would really be going out of its mind with worry in the future. So, after a search in the Encyclopedia, it found a book titled Top 10 Evil Fathers in History for Manbao and said, Host, consider this a loan from me. Borrowing books costs points, and youll have to pay me back once youve earned some points. Out of nowhere, a book appeared in Manbaos hands. Her eyes sparkled, and she quickly forgot the hurt Four caused her, excitedly asking, Is this for me? The system emphasized, This is lent to the host for reading, and must be returned after. Manbao was extremely touched, Keke, youre really nice. This is my first book. The system reiterated, Host, remember to return it after reading, or many points will be docked. Manbao waved her little hand magnanimously, Take them, books cost a lot of money anyway. The system: ...Host, you have no points. Manbao had already lowered her head to flip through the book. The text in the book had been replaced with characters from this era. Manbao could recognize many words, and the book was written in plain language, so she read with great interest, just like reading a storybook. In fact, it was a storybook, telling about the ten most despicable fathers in history. Chapter 15 - 15 8 Taking a Disciple ?15: Chapter 8: Taking a Disciple 15: Chapter 8: Taking a Disciple Although Manbao recognized many characters, she still couldnt understand overly complex stories; she could only comprehend these stories based on her instincts. Fortunately, these books differed from those on Mr. Zhuangs bookshelves because they were written in plain language; as long as she recognized the characters and read through, she might not understand everything, but she could grasp the general story. Manbao became excited and read the book with great interest. While the story was about a despicable father, the tragic aspect wasnt immediately apparent. The first story was ranked tenth and was about an emperor named Kangxi. It was about how he raised his sons like nurturing venomous insects, pitting them against each other to ensure his authority, deliberately balancing power amongst them. At first, Manbao didnt see how this father could be considered bad, just seeing it as a story. Thats when the system reminded her, Look at the fates of his sons, arent they all pretty tragic? Manbao paused, then asked, They are all princes and emperors, whats so tragic about that? Keke analyzed for her, You see, they are princes, but most of them ended up confined or exiled. Do you know what confinement and exile mean? Manbao proudly said, I dont know. The system choked a bit and then explained in detail about confinement and exile to her. In the end, it was just like being imprisoned and serving a sentence. Manbao was shocked, Their own father is the emperor, their brother is the emperor, and they still have to go to prison? Keke said, Thats why hes called a scummy dad. Manbao pouted her lips, feeling indeed that this father was not very good. She read the story back and forth twice and started to understand the meaning of the story. This was actually about a father who wanted to preserve his power and who deliberately let his sons fight against each other for the sake of balance. In the end, he confined three of his own sons and then chose one son to be the emperor. That emperor son then confined and exiled a few more, thus all of his sons ended up miserable. Manbao did not like this story much, and reading it gave her a headache, as there were several names she did not recognize, so she pointed them out and asked Keke. Keke not only taught her how to pronounce the characters but also took the opportunity to explain their meanings. Manbao turned to the next story, then she cried. This father was much worse than the previous one; he actually starved his daughter to death just because she accepted a piece of cake from a neighbor. Manbao was still kind-hearted, and she wailed, critiquing Keke sharply, This dad is really too bad, why is he still a high official of the Qing dynasty? Keke replied, His being a high official doesnt conflict with being a scummy dad. Although seemingly high officials should be good, Manbao still resolved to loathe him. The little girl in the story was about her age, and she was starved to death, which must have been agonizing. Manbaos eyes turned red from crying. When Mr. Zhuang returned from class and the system detected someone at the door, it immediately confiscated the book from Manbaos hands. So when Mr. Zhuang arrived, he only saw Manbao sitting on the steps, crying, with reddened eyes. Mr. Zhuangs grandson was just a bit older than Manbao and liked her the most, so he felt incredibly heartbroken. He quickly approached and gently asked, Manbao, has someone bullied you? Manbao, wiping her tears, clutched Mr. Zhuangs sleeve and looked up to ask, Are you a good father, sir? Mr. Zhuang paused, then after some thought, he said, Manbao, my grandson is older than you, and even in terms of seniority, I should be considered a grandfather. Wahhh, sir, are there many bad fathers in this world who bully children on purpose? Mr. Zhuang asked, Did your father scold you? Manbao shook her head, My dad is very kind to me; hes not a bad dad. Relieved, Mr. Zhuang looked at her and knew she was still young, so he sat beside her and patiently asked, Then why do you ask such a question? I read a story about a high official. His family had little to eat, and his daughter was hungry. A neighbor saw this and gave her a piece of cake. After she ate it and he found out, he became very angry and locked her up until she starved to death. Mr. Zhuangs cheeks twitched as he said, How could there be such officials? Trusting the book that Keke had shown her, Manbao insisted, There are, I saw it with my own eyes. Knowing not to argue with a child, Mr. Zhuang said, Even if there are, such officials are just seeking a reputation, falsely acclaimed as upright officials. Just over a piece of cake, no need for such extremity. If they were truly honest and upright, theyd pay back double to the neighbor. Chapter 16 - 16 8 Taking Disciples_2 ?16: Chapter 8 Taking Disciples_2 16: Chapter 8 Taking Disciples_2 Eh? Manbao blinked and tried hard to recall what she had just read in the book, scratching her head, she said, It seems it wasnt just because he ate a piece of cake; it was because his daughter had contact with an outsider, sir, what is an outsider? Mr. Zhuang chuckled, Thats even more nonsensical, an outsider refers to someone like me in relation to you, or the students in the school in relation to you. While there are differences between men and women, its not necessary to guard against it to such an extent; if someone does, theyre either a madman or a devil. Mr. Zhuang said, The former is a lunatic who really believes that, and the latter does it on purpose, trading their own daughters life for a reputation. You should stay as far away from such a person as possible in the future. But Ive never heard of such a story, where did you read about it? Manbao immediately replied, It was from a book, titled Top 10 Evil Fathers in History. Since its history, there must be records of it, right? I wonder which dynastys official the one you just mentioned was from? A person from the Jiajing era of Daming. Mr. Zhuang couldnt help but burst out laughing, stroking her little head, he said, This just shows that its all made-up, where in the world is there a Daming dynasty? Manbao blinked, but still believed in Keke, asking it in her mind, Keke, did you lie to me? The usually silent system actually expressed a sense of pleasure, responding, No, host. Just because your space doesnt have a Daming doesnt mean others dont, the absence now doesnt mean it will be absent in the future. Its just like with me, in this space, at this time, only you have me. But in the era of my inventor, I was not rare. I wouldnt say that everyone had one, but as long as you have money and are willing to buy, everyone can have one. Manbao vaguely understood, but still summed up her understanding; that is, Keke didnt lie, but Mr. Zhuang was also correct, so she decided to listen to both of them. She looked up at Mr. Zhuang and asked, Then sir, do you know of any bad fathers in our history? Mr. Zhuang asked, Why are you interested in this? You should know that a son does not speak of the faults of his father. Even if a father does something wrong, rarely would anyone publicize it and let the father lose face, not to mention embarrassing the family. What good would it bring to oneself? Manbao was stunned, so Mr. Zhuang simply took the opportunity to lecture her on propriety, after a long discussion, he said, Manbao, you are a clever child, and I know you love reading. Since that is the case, you should study hard. Youve finished the Thousand Character Classic, and now you should begin studying The Analects. Once youve finished The Analects, Ill teach you about Rites.'' Manbao was dazed, when the system couldnt help reminding her, Host, arent you going to thank your teacher? Manbao came to her senses and immediately knelt down, Sir, teacher! Manbao gave Mr. Zhuang a bow with her head touching the floor. Mr. Zhuang regretted his words for a moment, but seeing her kneeling on the ground, calling him a teacher with a happy face, that bit of regret vanished. Forget it, although she is a female apprentice, she is intelligent, lovely, and affords some solace. Mr. Zhuang helped the child up and said, You go home and tell these things to your parents. Why, teacher? Havent you always told me not to talk to my parents about what happens here? Mr. Zhuang, stroking her head, said, Since Ive allowed you to kneel in respect, we should make it proper and official. Mr. Zhuang stroked her head and sighed deeply. When he first saw Manbao, she was just a little girl who could barely stand up by leaning on a wall, probably just eight or nine months old, barely able to stand steady. Junior Ms. Qian came to cook, and since it was her first job, she cherished it, always arriving early, not only to clean everywhere, but also to chop wood, start the fire, and cook. Therefore, it couldnt be helped that she neglected the child, and at that time Manbao crawled to the threshold of the classroom, floundering over to cling at the doorway and listen to him teach. Initially, Mr. Zhuang was somewhat annoyed, feeling that Junior Ms. Qian wasnt competent, so he put down his book to pick up Manbao and went looking for Junior Ms. Qian. He intended to tell Junior Ms. Qian to look after her child properly, but found her wielding an ax, sweating profusely while splitting wood. Since Mr. Zhuang was hired by Landlord Bai to teach in this mountain village, his own family wasnt particularly wealthy; in fact, they too had experienced such poverty. In his memory, his mother had raised him in the same way, so Mr. Zhuang hesitated for a bit, did not call out to Junior Ms. Qian, and turned around to bring Manbao back, allowing her to sit on the threshold. Fortunately, the child was well-behaved. She just sat on the threshold, not crying or fussing, eating what was given to her, and when she saw the students reading aloud, she too began to babble along. Late on, the first word she said was Teacher, a claim Mr. Zhuang insisted on. The child was truly clever; as a little one just over a year old and barely able to speak, she followed the students, reciting Heaven and earth are dark and yellow... His youngest student was six years old. Theyd read a passage ten times and remember it, but then forget it again the next day, yet this childs little head retained it all very clearly. Of course, she only knew how to recite and didnt recognize the characters. So Mr. Zhuang copied a Thousand Character Classic for her. Late on, Mr. Zhuang grew even fonder of her, as he found that not only could Manbao memorize texts quickly, akin to never forgetting what she heard, she also recognized characters quickly. After going through them a few times, she would remember them. How could such a clever, adorable, and kind child not be a boy? Mr. Zhuang lamented this more than once. Then he couldnt refrain himself from teaching her, teaching her to recognize words, teaching her morals, even specially finding books for calligraphy practice, and giving the manuscripts to her to keep. The decision to take her as a disciple was blurted out on the spur of the moment, but the thought had been there for more than a day or two. It was only his hesitation because she was a girl. In reality, he was just a scholar who had been dismissed from an official academy, with ultimately limited knowledge. Why be too concerned about those empty accolades? Could he really be like the bad fathers she mentioned, fishing for praise and recognition? Mr. Zhuang rubbed Manbaos head more vigorously, making up his mind he said, Go find your elder sister-in-law right now, and have your parents pick a good day to formally bring you to study. Manbao walked away, bewildered. Chapter 17 - 17 9 Agreement ?17: Chapter 9 Agreement 17: Chapter 9 Agreement Manbao, with her little short legs, ran to find her eldest sister-in-law, with Keke watching the whole time, not uttering a word. Eldest Sister-in-law Zhou was clearly startled and asked Manbao repeatedly about what Mr. Zhuang had said. Once she confirmed it and thought for a moment, she placed her things on the stove and said, Lets go, your sister-in-law will take you home first, and well clean up later. Manbao had an especially good memory, and since the incident had just occurred, she naturally described it with clarity, but Old Zhou still asked three times. Then he squatted on the threshold, took out some raw tobacco from his pocket, stuffed it into his pipe, and didnt speak. No one else spoke either, Ms.Qian said to Junior Ms.Qian, You go back to your work first. This matter isnt trivial; we need to wait for Eldest and the others to return before making a decision. Junior Ms.Qian answered affirmatively and continued with her work at the school. Ms.Qian glanced at Old Zhou, took Manbaos little hand, and led her into the house, looking down at her. Seeing the blankness on her round face, she knew that Manbao probably did not understand the implications. After thinking for a while, Ms.Qian asked, Manbao, do you want to study? Manbao replied, Ive been studying all along. Ive already learned the Thousand Character Classic, and Mr. Zhuang said he could teach me The Analects. I can also count to a hundred. Ms.Qian stroked her little head, Do you like studying? This time, Manbao nodded, happily saying, I like it! Studying is fun. When Im in a good mood, reciting the Thousand Character Classic is like singing a song; it makes me even happier. When Im not in a good mood, I also read the Thousand Character Classic, and as I read, I become cheerful. Ms.Qians gaze turned vague, as if lost in thought, and after a long while, she said, Its such a pity... Manbao climbed onto the bed, sat snuggled against her mother, looked up with her little head, and asked, Mom, whats a pity? Its a pity youre not a boy. Manbao pouted and said, I dont want to be a boy. Boys are dirty and stinky and not as pretty as girls. Ms.Qian couldnt help but laugh, Yes, our Manbao is clean and sweet-smelling... But boys can carry on the family line. Ms.Qian considered herself to have a tough heart, yet she couldnt help the tears that fell freely at this moment. Seeing this, Manbao felt extremely distressed. She quickly wiped away her mothers tears, while her own eyes turned red. With a crying voice, she asked, Mom, why are you crying? Dont you like me going to school? Then, then Ill go less. Ms.Qian couldnt help but laugh out loud. While wiping away her tears, she pinched Manbaos nose and said, What a little slicker you are; just like your dad, always saying sweet words to please others. Manbao opened her mouth wide, unable to imagine her father was that kind of dad. Ms.Qian was sad for only a moment before holding Manbao tightly and saying, Since you can study, then do so. There are many benefits to studying. Although you are a girl, if you are educated, youll be more skilled than others. In the future, you wont be deceived or harmed, and you can live a better life. Though Ms.Qian was illiterate herself and merely a village woman who had never left the county, she had her perspective. She said softly, Look at those men, those who can read live better lives than those who cannot, and those who understand matters are sharper than those who do not. Its the same for girls. Manbao nodded vigorously, The teacher says studying enables one to understand principles. Bai Er, that fool, he said he wont take the imperial examinations and will just inherit his fathers property to collect rent for a living. Teacher scolded him. He said a person who understands principles will not feel guilty wherever they go; theyll act rightly and can... The words that followed were a bit difficult. Manbao paused, but with Kekes reminder, she continued, can stand on invincible ground, with an invincible heart and spirit. Although Manbao didnt quite grasp the meaning of those words, she remembered because, at that moment, Mr. Zhuang seemed so tall and formidable, it made her cheeks flush with excitement, as if she wished she could run around the river at the entrance of the village three times, shouting at the top of her lungs. So she committed it to memory. Her eyes gleaming, she looked at her mother and said, Mom, I want to study and understand principles! Ms.Qian looked at her serious little face, nearly ready to fulfill her wish, but remembering the familys current predicament, she pressed all her words to the bottom of her heart. It would be better to wait for the head of the households opinion. Zhou Dalang and the others returned at the time for the evening meal when the sun was just preparing to set, but everyone was already famished since the morning meal had only been porridge. Everyone washed their hands in a simple manner and sat down at the dining table. Old Zhou didnt rush to discuss the important matters; he waited until everyone had finished eating. Only then did he sit in the courtyard and call Eldest, Two, and Third over to talk. Chapter 18 - 18 9 Agreement_2 ?18: Chapter 9 Agreement_2 18: Chapter 9 Agreement_2 Junior Ms.Qian glanced outside and furrowed her brows slightly, clutching a rag without speaking. Second Sister-in-law Zhou, Ms. Feng, also looked into the courtyard and couldnt help but whisper softly, Father-in-law wont really be thinking of letting the little girl go to school, right? Ms. He frowned and said, Impossible, right? That would cost so much money. Eldest sister-in-law, Mother-In-Law wouldnt have agreed, would she? Junior Ms. Qian clutched the rag; she also wasnt keen on the idea of the little girl going to school, but it had been her who had brought the girl home at noon. In fact, when she had heard the news at noon, her initial reaction was one of happiness. If the girl could become a disciple of Mr. Zhuang, she would have such great prospects. But when she returned to the school, she remembered: schooling costs money. Even if Mr. Zhuang privately took on disciples and didnt accept the girls tuition fee, the gift for becoming an apprentice couldnt be omitted. During festivals, they still would have to give presents. These were the minor costs. But if youre reading, you have to buy books, right? None of pen, ink, paper, and inkstone come without a cost, do they? Actually, the tuition at Mr. Zhuangs school wasnt very high, since most of it was covered by Landlord Bai. But before Zhou SiLang lost money gambling, the Zhou Family hadnt been able to send any of their grandsons to study, in part because their financial foundation was too weak to support a scholar. What was unaffordable in the past was even less so now. Moreover, they also had an old lady to take care of at home, who needed to take medicine every month, further adding to the burdens. All these considerations washed away Junior Ms. Qians initial joy, leaving only worry behind. Of course, what Junior Ms. Qian could think of, other men in the Zhou Family had already considered even more thoroughlyespecially the head of the family, Old Zhou. He hadnt been too keen on letting Manbao go to school, but the conversation his wife and Manbao had had in the room that afternoon made him hesitate time and again. At dinner, he watched as Manbao held a large bowl with both little hands, nearly burying her face in it as she ate the watery porridge with relish. When he glanced over at his three daughters-in-law who had just put down their bowls and were getting ready to clear the table, wash the dishes, and clean up, the balance in Old Zhous heart began to tip to the other side. His Manbao was frail and looked pale and chubbyadorableand spoiled by her father and brothers at home. But what about in ten, fifteen years from now? Would she need to marry a farmer just like her brothers and become a farmers wife like her sisters-in-law? Old Zhou took a few fierce puffs of his pipe, choked a little, and then knocked out his pipe, saying, You all know the situation. Speak up, what are your thoughts? Zhou Er and Zhou San exchanged glances, bowed their heads, and said, We will follow Father and Eldest brothers decision. Old Zhou glanced at them and turned to Zhou Dalang, Dalang, you speak. Dalang bit his lip and said, Since Mr. Zhuang is willing to take her, then lets support her. When she grows up, if she can marry into town, she wont have to scour the fields for food like us. Exactly! Old Zhou slapped his thigh, Thats exactly what I was thinking. How many girls in this world can read and write, let alone do math? You all think about it, among the children at home, who is as smart as Manbao? She can count out the number of eggs in the house at a glance, while Datou can never sort it out correctly. Our Manbao is also pretty, and she will certainly be more beautiful when she grows up. She could marry not just into townmaybe even into the county. Zhou ErLang was conflicted and said, Thats all well and good, but it costs a lot of money to study, doesnt it? And shes a girl; she cant take exams to become an official... Zhou ErLang trailed off under his fathers gaze, nudging Zhou San instead. Zhou San said, I will listen to Father and Eldest Brother. Zhou Dalang & Zhou ErLang: ... Unable to help himself, Old Zhou took another puff of his pipe and said, Mr. Zhuang surely wont accept Manbaos tuition fee. Well just prepare a gift for the apprenticeship. Zhou ErLang then said, But we still have to buy books and supplies like pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, right? We cant expect Mr. Zhuang to provide everything for Manbao, Father. We dont even know how much these things will cost. Nobody in the family had ever been schooled, so they had no idea about the actual prices, but books, pens, inks, papersthey all sounded expensive. And that was precisely one of the reasons Old Zhou hesitated most. He smoked silently, not uttering a word. Dalangs veins on his hands bulged as he bit his lip fiercely, saying, Father, Manbao is a good child, and Mr. Zhuang is aware of our familys situation. Ill ask him. Whatever book theyre studying now, well buy just one copy. Manbao is still young and doesnt need paper and ink for practice yet. By the time she grows older, our family should have saved up a bit of money. Seeing his eldest son speak up, Old Zhou let out a sigh of relief and nodded, Alright, thats what well do. The day after tomorrow, you and I will take Manbao for the apprenticeship and discuss it with Mr. Zhuang. Zhou ErLang opened his mouth as if to speak, but in the end, he didnt voice his concerns, though he was full of anxiety. Four was already forty-six, due for marriage negotiations; the plan was to find him a bride for the New Year, so that come spring, they could farm the fields together. But he gambled away the familys money, tarnishing his reputation; it would likely take three years before he could even think of marrying. Four could delay his marriage for a few years; it was his fault, after all. But what about Five? Five was already fourteen; in two years, he would need to talk about marriage. The expenses of a wedding were not small, not to mention their mother still needed her medicine. There were six brothers in the family, excluding the three unmarried ones, and among the three that were married, Eldest was steady but not very clever. Third was an absolute honest man. Only Two had some wit about him, and since he frequented the market to sell things, his thoughts were a bit more expansive than Eldests. Originally, after the gambling incident, he had calculated that in three or four years, they could save a bit of money. Then they could borrow some to arrange a marriage for Five. After Five would come Four and Sixth. Once these three younger ones were married off, the family would be destitute for at least another decade, then Datou would also need to start thinking about marriage. He had always planned that it was better for the family to work together. With parents present, brothers could pool their strength and earn money a bit faster. Although his younger brothers, nephews, and his own son might marry one after the other, which meant he might never see spare money in his lifetime, they wouldnt lack food and clothing. But if his plan included Manbaos schooling, then the family would truly have no extra money at all. Zhou ErLang scratched his head, finally expressing his headache, thinking to himself, forget it, after all, the household was run by his parents. If there were worries, they would bear them. For now, all he had to do was obey and take care of his own small family. Chapter 19 - 19 10 Going to the Market ?19: Chapter 10: Going to the Market 19: Chapter 10: Going to the Market Old Zhou decided to let his daughter apprentice under Mr. Zhuang as her teacher, which of course required proper preparations. Thus, the next day, even Eldest didnt go out for work. Old Zhou directly had him borrow a handcart from the village chief and moved two bags of grain out from the storeroom. The whole family stood at their doorways watching. Old Zhou seemed oblivious to the anxiety in his daughters-in-laws eyes, instructing Eldest and Third to secure the bags of grain, and then he told Zhou ErLang, Once you get to the market, first exchange the grain for money, buy three days worth of medicine for your mother, and get a piece of pork, belly pork specifically, but if you can find cured meat that would be even better. Old Zhou thought for a moment and added, See if theres anyone selling decent cotton cloth at the market. If there is, buy it to make a set of clothes for Mr. Zhuang, and dont forget to buy fabric for socks and shoes, something of good quality. Zhou ErLang noted everything down. Junior Ms. Qian and the others listened to the list of things to buy, their hearts twitching. That was two bags of grain after all. Old Zhou was even more pained than they were, but with the sound of laughter drifting in from outside, he could overlook that pain. Having given all his instructions, Old Zhou waved his hand, signaling everyone to go about their business. Manbao woke up early in the morning and then took Wulang and Liulang to pick wildflowers together. By the time the family had finished their preparations, they, too, were ready. They filled the baskets Zhou ErLang had woven with wild grass and flowers, following cheerfully behind the adults. Ms. Feng, who was accompanying them, looked at the contents of their baskets and couldnt help but ask, What are you doing with all these things? Daya replied, Aunt said were going to sell them. Ms. Fengs eyes widened slightly in disbelief, These things are everywhere in the mountains, who would buy them? At that moment, Manbao, being carried by Zhou Wulang, declared loudly, Second Sister-in-law, I would buy them. Im willing to buy anything that looks pretty. This really is a wastrel. Unable to help herself, Ms. Feng asked, Aunt, do you have any money? Manbao honestly shook her head, Not now, but I will in the future. She had great confidence in herself. Even Keke said she was very clever, so she must be really capable. Therefore, earning money surely wouldnt be a problem for her. Ms. Feng didnt stop them, simply treating it as childs play, since they were carrying the stuff by themselves. Upon reaching the market, everyone began looking for places to set up their stalls. Zhou ErLang had made quite a few baskets and winnowing fans to sell. He confidently claimed a spot, placed his goods, let his wife handle the sales, and then reminded Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang, Keep a close eye on Manbao and Datou. Dont let them run off. Before Zhou Wulang could reply, Manbao patted her chest and assured, Dont worry, Second Brother. Ill take good care of the boys. We wont go anywhere. Zhou ErLang smiled and patted her head. Then he pushed the handcart and went with Zhou Dalang to sell the grain. This market was held every five days and was a gathering of several nearby villages in the relatively large Dali Village. There was a mountain nearby with a Taoist temple at its peak, housing several Taoist priests. On the nineteenth day of the first lunar month, a very grand temple fair was held here, attracting even people from the county town to join from afar. That was the grand temple fair. For other minor fairs, they were held on significant solar terms, a tradition that had been around for many years. According to what Manbao overheard from the elders at the village entrance, these customs had existed since they were children. Keke even lamented over this, explaining that it was a system specifically designed to collect biological knowledge, and their encyclopedia had another system dedicated to collecting those folk customs. The formation of the temple fair alone could generate countless sub-tasks, potentially earning a lot of points. At the time, Manbao felt that Keke was a bit sad, so she happily offered endless sweet talk without cost, But I like Keke the best. I dont care about other systems. In short, this was a grand market where villagers exchanged what they had with one another. So the question arises, did everyone use money for exchange? Of course not! Manbao saw Second Sister-in-law set up the baskets and winnowing fans properly, so they too quickly placed their baskets full of wild grass and flowers next to Ms. Fengs goods, and then they crouched down behind them, resting their chins in their hands while watching the passersby. Zhou ErLang had been operating in the market for many years and had built up a good reputation, so it wasnt long before an old lady with a basket on her back came up and, picking through the winnowing fans, asked, Can I exchange these for eggs? Ms. Feng thought for a moment before agreeing, Are eggs still two coins for three these days? Chapter 20 - 20 10 Going to the Market_2 ?20: Chapter 10 Going to the Market_2 20: Chapter 10 Going to the Market_2 The old grandma readily agreed. Ms. Feng began to calculate how many eggs she had to give, So you give me... She did some calculations and then felt that her calculation was not quite right; she began to sweat on her forehead. Typically, these matters were managed by her husband, and she was only in charge of dealing with money. Ms. Feng wiped her sweat, and Manbao, seeing her sister-in-law stumped, quickly jumped in, Second Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, I know how to do it. Is our winnowing basket still fifteen wen a piece? Ms. Feng knew that her little sister-in-law was clever and also good at arithmetic, often playing games with her husband, such as adding one wen to two wen to make how many wens, so she nodded again and again, Yes, our prices never change. Manbao curiously looked at the old lady, Where are your eggs? The old lady herself was not good at arithmetic, but before leaving home, her family had calculated how many eggs she needed to bring. However, she still hoped that the Zhou family would make a mistake in their counting. She hurriedly approached as soon as she saw that Zhou ErLang was not present. She set down her carrying basket, lifted the cover, and showed Manbao her eggs, These are laid by the chickens at home, really good ones. Manbao said, Let me count them. The old lady was somewhat displeased, You havent told me how many eggs I need to give yet. Manbao stared with wide eyes and replied, I havent counted before, so how would I know how many eggs to give? I need to count them. Hearing this, anyone would know she was inexperienced. The old lady was amused and didnt stop her, laughing, Then you need to be careful not to break the eggs. Manbao assured her, Dont worry, if any are broken, Ill count them as mine. She took the eggs out, stacking them three by three, ending up with about eight stacks. The old lady counted her eggs and her heart skipped a beat, almost taking the eggs back. Manbao clapped her small hands cheerfully, I have counted it, counted it, Second Sister-in-law look, this is two wen, this is two wen, two wen, two wen... its sixteen wen in total. The vendor opposite had watched the whole process and laughed, This little girl is really smart. Ms. Feng beamed with pride, This is my little sister-in-law; shes the smartest in our family. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang also felt proud, puffing out their chests, My sister! The old lady glanced at the two sturdy young lads and swallowed the words she was about to say, then spoke instead, Your familys winnowing basket is fifteen wen, but youve taken an extra wen from me. I should take back this stack. Manbao felt her point was reasonable, so she proactively took out two of the smallest eggs from a stack and gave them to her, Fifteen wen. I should give you back one and a half eggs, but half an egg cant be divided, so well lose a bit. You take these two back. The old lady choked up. Ms. Feng also noticed the old ladys movement, smiled complacently, and quickly put the eggs into their familys basket, letting the old lady pick out a winnowing basket she liked and adding, We wont pick and choose with the size of the eggs; lets just make the swap like this. Although she hadnt lost out, the old lady still felt somewhat unhappy, looking at Manbao and said, This child is plump and fair, not looking like shes from a saving family. Ms. Feng smiled, Our familys youngest is doted on by her grandparents, and her brothers also adore her, so she is well looked after. Without bragging, you wont find a girl in the neighboring ten villages better looking than our youngest. Everyone looked closely and agreed. Not only were the girls features adorable, but she was also fair and chubby. Her round, rosy cheeks made her look like a person of good fortune. The old lady let go of her reservations and smiled, She is indeed pretty. Manbao, flattered, immediately became cheerful and enthusiastically introduced her goods to the old lady, Mom, take a look at my things too. Look at my flowers; theyre very pretty. If you put them on the windowsill, theyll brighten up your mood. Being addressed as mom made the old lady feel much younger, and she playfully said, Are you giving them to me? Look at you being so polite. She reached out her hand to take them. Manbaos eyes sparkled brightly, Theyre not for free. One wen per bunch, really cheap. The old ladys hand flew back instantaneously, and she widened her eyes asking, What, youre charging money for these wildflowers? Arent the mountains full of them? Yes, Manbao defended confidently, but I picked them. Ms. Feng hastily intervened, Dont mind it, mom. The kids are just playing around. They wanted to do business at home, so we brought them out to see the world a bit. The old lady felt a bit better, but she didnt reach for the flowers again, afraid Manbao would ask her for money. So she chose a winnowing basket and quickly left. Manbao watched her go with a longing gaze and sighed to her friends, Why didnt she buy any? Our flowers are so pretty. Her friends: ...We saw it coming, thats why were not at all disappointed. The friends watched the bustling street with enthusiasm, just happy to be at the market. As people came and went, baskets and winnowing baskets were sold. Manbao always helped her Second Sister-in-law with the calculations, then after finishing, would recommend her own flowers and plants. At first, every adult happily reached out to take them but immediately retracted their hands upon learning there was a cost. As the market day progressed past the halfway point, not only had her eldest brother and Second Brother not returned, but not a single one of their flowers and plants had sold, with the flora beginning to wilt. Concerned, Manbao sighed and seeing that there were not many winnowing baskets left in front of her Second Sister-in-lawbut plenty of remaining basketsshe arranged her flowers and plants into the baskets. Ms. Feng watched nervously, Little sister-in-law, youre not going to require customers to buy your flowers and plants if they buy a basket, are you? Manbao, who had merely been thinking of giving away the flowers and plants to avoid waste, lit up, Oh, Second Sister-in-law, youre so clever. Why didnt I think of that? Ms. Feng wished she could sew her own mouth shut. Chapter 21 - 21 11 Credit of Integral ?21: Chapter 11: Credit of Integral 21: Chapter 11: Credit of Integral Daya and Erya, watching from the sidelines, burst into laughter. Ms. Feng gave them a stern glance and immediately advised Manbao, Young Miss, our baskets are already hard to sell. If you add flowers and herbs, they will become even harder to sell. These flora are everywhere in the mountains, what household here would need them? But I saw that they clearly liked them very much. Just now, when I offered, they all accepted, Manbao felt that they were just stingy and unwilling to spend money. Of course, theyll take things that are given for free, but theyre not worth the money. After thinking a bit, Manbao had her own opinion, Thats not right. If the flowers and herbs arent pretty, people wouldnt even take them for free. So, we need to find some people who arent stingy, and once they see our beautiful flowers and herbs, they will definitely want to buy. Ms. Feng then said, But everyone at the market is stingy. Manbaos shoulders slumped, Alright, then we wont sell them today, well give them away, and wait until we find people who arent stingy to sell them to. Ms. Feng was satisfied and let them use the flowers and herbs to decorate the baskets they had brought. Daya and Erya immediately pitched in to help. Indeed, the baskets looked a lot nicer after being decorated, and when lined up, they caught everyones attention. Even those who didnt need a basket at home stopped to take a longer look; and those who happened to need one came straight up to ask about the price. The prices at the market had been constant for years, with few increases, so their familys baskets were the same price as others. Zhou ErLangs craftsmanship wasnt bad either, so the customers would pick one to their liking and either pay in cash or barter with goods. Common items for bartering at the market usually included eggs, fabric, and grain. But fabric was very expensive, and each year they also had to submit a certain amount of it as tax, so most of the time, they bartered with eggs and grain from their household. Of course, there were also those who used money, but they were few. By the end of the market day, Ms. Feng had collected quite a bit of grain and eggs, carefully sorting them into the baskets and backbaskets. As the sun grew higher, Ms. Feng anxiously looked towards the end of the street. Her husband and older brother hadnt come back yet. Seeing the children looking tired, she knew they were hungry. She took out two cakes from the backbasket, tore them up, and shared them among the children, Here, eat a little with some water. Once your uncle and dad are back, we can go home. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang also took nearly half a cake each from their sister-in-law, nibbled on it, and with a half-crouch sighed, It must be hard to sell, who would need grain so soon after the autumn harvest? Tsk, tsk, tsk, children should not be taken seriously, let the wind blow those words away. Your father and uncle will certainly have a smooth and successful trip, said Ms. Feng, Fifth Uncle, you should speak more auspicious words. Auspicious words are not hard to say. Every day I wish to the God of Wealth in my dreams, hoping our family will be rich and noble, but it doesnt seem to work, said Wulang. Manbao was very interested and asked the system silently, Keke, is the God of Wealth in heaven? Can you see him? System: ...No, and there probably isnt a God of Wealth in this world. How can there not be? We worship him every year, and theres the Kitchen God, the Earth God... System: People from the future firmly believe in atheism, so they think there are no gods in the world. This was the complete opposite of the stories Manbao had heard since childhood. She was stunned for a while, then she quickly figured it out and said excitedly, It must be because there are no gods in your world, and theyve all run off to our world. System: Its not bad for you to think that way. Manbao asked, Can gods be more powerful than you? Can they make things disappear with a whoosh and then make them appear again with another whoosh, and can they fulfill my wishes with a whoosh whoosh? I fulfill the hosts wishes on the premise that the host has completed the tasks I set. Therefore, there are no gifts in this world without effort, replied the system. Manbao nodded thoughtfully, You are like the gods, I think the gods must think the same way. But gods dont speak to me, so how do I know what their tasks are? The system fell silent. Manbao pondered on her own and quickly had an idea. She shouted in her mind, I know now! Then she tugged at Zhou Wulang and said, Your way is wrong. Just wishing at night in your sleep shows your heart isnt sincere. You have to do something for the God of Wealth, then he will fulfill your wishes. Zhou Wulang asked, What should I do for him? Chapter 22 - 22 11 Integration to Account_2 ?22: Chapter 11 Integration to Account_2 22: Chapter 11 Integration to Account_2 For example, cleaning for him, serving tea and meals, Manbao explained logically, Thats what I did for Mr. Zhuang. I cleaned for him, and he taught me to recognize characters. I served him tea and meals, and he gave me his finished papers. You have to do the same with the God of Wealth. Zhou Wulang laughed heartily and asked Manbao, And where is this God of Wealth? The little friends all looked up at the blue sky together and sighed with regret, Hes in heaven. Ms. Feng listened to their childish words with an expressionless face while devoting herself to sorting through the traded goods. But the villagers nearby, who also had their stalls set up, envied her and complimented, Big sister, your kids are so clever. Their own children would never think of these things or say such words; all they did every day was play with mud or think about going up the mountains to find wild fruits to eat. Ms. Feng just smiled at them and said, These kids, theyre full of ideas every day; you never know whats going on in their little heads. Everyone chuckled and agreed, Thats true, we couldnt understand a word our children said before they turned three. Ms. Feng didnt eat any cakes; she specifically saved one each for Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang. Seeing Manbao chewing on a small piece of cake with relish but hardly able to bite off a chunk, she knew the girl wasnt used to it. After all, she had never traveled far and was used to eating hot meals at home. After some thought, Ms. Feng asked Zhou Wulang to watch the stall and took out two eggs, planning to find a family in the village to boil them for her little sister-in-law. As soon as she left, Manbao immediately took out something wrapped in a handkerchief from her bosomor rather, from Keke. Unwrapping the handkerchief, there were candies wrapped in oil paper inside. This time, roseleaf bramble had given her more rewards because the item had become extinct in the future. There were records and photos of it in the encyclopedia museum, but no physical samples. Not only did Manbao record the fruit, but she also recorded a young seedling, so the encyclopedia museum generously awarded her fifty points for the first time. After deducting her historical debt, which was actually the points Keke had used from his savings to entice her into excavating and recording plants in exchange for candies, the total was eighteen. In the end, Manbao was left with thirty-two points, the most she had ever received. Previously, recording various plants and flowers would barely earn her a single point. It was Keke and the encyclopedia museum who advocated for her because the plants she had previously recorded already had physical samples in the museum and still existed in the future. That single point was a reward for encouragement. However, Manbao thought the term encouragement sounded nice and had always been proud of it. Every time she got points, she would exchange them for candies, never considering paying back Kekes debt. This kind of candy, popular among children, was the cheapest. One point could be exchanged for a large pack, containing about a hundred pieces. Keke had said they were sold by weight at wholesale prices, which were extremely cheap. They came in various colors. At first, Manbao loved the brightly colored ones, but for her safety, Keke helped her buy candies that were yellow or red, which looked more like the candies available at present. For those particularly dazzling colors, Keke once bought her a separate pack, which she kept in the system to eat slowly. Most of the other candies were given away by her because she was a generous child. Whenever Manbao had candy, she never kept it to herself; she would occasionally slip a piece into the mouths of her brothers and nieces and nephews. As the closest to Manbao, Daya, Erya, and Sanya ate the most candy. Adding to that, Old Zhou, Ms. Qian, and several sister-in-laws could always get some of her candy dissolving in their tea, so her candy supply dwindled quickly. Last night, as soon as her points were credited, she bought a pack of candy and peeled many pieces in the system. She also dug out the oil paper wrappers that Second Brother had used to wrap the candies he bought for her, and today she wrapped them in her own handkerchief again. Seeing Second Sister-in-law leave, Manbao sneakily took out the candies and whispered to her friends, Lets sell these candies, shall we? When Zhou Wulang and the others saw the candies, they couldnt help but drool a little and asked, Manbao, I remember the candies Second Brother bought the last time he came to market were all eaten by us. Where did you get these from? Having just linked Keke with celestial beings, Manbao said with particular mystery and pride, A celestial being gave them to me. The little friends didnt believe her because she had previously said it was a friend named Keke, or before that, their descendants had given them, and even claimed they were gifts from someone named System. So, regarding their little sisters words, they were completely incredulous. Although they didnt believe, they still habitually asked before turning their gaze back to the candies, It may be difficult to sell so many; should we eat some first? Yeah, difficult to sell, Datou also egged Manbao on, We better eat some first; fewer will be easier to sell. But Manbao wasnt foolish and held onto the candies tightly, No, we are having hard times at home, we need to learn to endure hardship, so we cant have candies for now. Everyone bowed their heads in disappointment. Manbao then comforted them, When our family has money, itll be fine. Then I wont sell my candies, Ill give them all to you. But right now we need to buy medicine for Mother. Indeed, Manbao was so eager to sell the candies because she wanted to buy medicine for her mother. Ms. Qians medicine had run out yesterday; she had struggled to breathe all of last night. Manbao had been sleeping soundly at first, but after her father got up to fetch water and pat her mothers back, she woke up and slipped into the space to peel the candy wrappers. She felt that nothing was more important than buying medicine for her mother right now. The others were quite filial and immediately agreed, promising to do their best to sell the candies. So, they started spreading out to look for suitable buyerspeople with children, preferably dressed a bit better. Chapter 23 - 23 12 Sell Candy ?23: Chapter 12 Sell Candy 23: Chapter 12 Sell Candy Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang were older and felt somewhat embarrassed, but Datou was very bold and would stop any child he thought might buy candy, asking, Do you want to buy some candy? Manbao immediately went forward with the wax paper, opened it to show the candy, and pridefully said, Our candy is especially delicious, do you want to buy some? The child gulped and looked towards their parents. The parents were not fools and asked, This candy doesnt look like the usual kind we buy, are you sure its candy? Of course it is, Ive tried it myself, Manbao said puffing out her chest: Its much tastier than what they sell at the market. The parents were somewhat amused and said, Youve tried it, but we havent, how do we know youre not lying? Manbao was taken aback, then grabbed a piece of candy and offered it generously, Then why dont you try it? The child reached out to take it, but was immediately stopped by their parents, who asked, Youre not trying to make us buy it by offering a taste, are you? Of course not, Manbao replied righteously, I wouldnt do such a bad thing. Try it, if it isnt real, its free. Zhou Wulang thought Manbao was being particularly foolish and couldnt help himself, rushing over to take the candy, crushing it in his hand, and then picking out a small piece for them, Here, give it a try. Zhou Wulang thought about it and felt that the parents shouldnt be the only ones to try it, and so picked out a small piece for the child as well. Everyone didnt mind that the candy was crushed by his hand and after tasting it, their eyes lit up slightly. This candy was much sweeter than the candy sold at the market. The childs mother immediately asked, How much are you selling this candy for? Manbao had already discussed this with the system and so confidently answered, Five pieces for one wen. The childs mothers eyes flickered and said, Thats too expensive, we cant afford it. Could you make it a little cheaper? Manbao was somewhat disappointed, seeing how well they were dressed, she had thought they were wealthier. She shook her head and said, Then never mind, well find someone else. After saying this, she pulled Datou to look for another customer, leaving the stunned parents behind. They had been negotiating, not saying they wouldnt buy; this act of pretending to leave and waiting to be coaxed should have been their role, right? Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang saw this and silently praised their sisters backbone in their hearts. They had tasted the candy themselves and believed it was worth far more than what was being asked. After all, the candy at the market was also priced this way. Manbao left decisively, leaving the customers feeling unwilling, and they quickly chased after her, stopping the child to ask, Cant you make it any cheaper? This price was set after Keke helped Manbao analyze it. Initially, it was three pieces for one wen because Keke believed their candy had a much higher sugar content than the current candy. High value meant a higher price. However, after hearing from Keke that the market price for candy was five for one wen, Manbao thought she wouldnt be able to sell it if it was more expensive. Since she had points and wasnt lacking in candy, she generously agreed that pricing it the same as at the market would be fine. So, Manbao knew what she was doing, she knew this was the lowest price. She was a child of principles and it was not possible for her to lower the price. She also didnt think these parents were negotiating, but genuinely believed they couldnt afford it, so she looked at the little boy regretfully and shook her head in refusal. This glance made the child so heartbroken, and he immediately burst into tears, hugging his mothers leg and howling, I want to buy candy, I want to buy candy. The parents felt the child was a bit ungrateful; what was wrong with lowering the price a bit? Seeing their displeased faces, Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang stepped forward, standing behind Manbao together. The parents hesitated, then forced a smile and said, Forget it, well take however much you have. Manbao was startled; were they so wealthy? She immediately opened her wax paper and said cheerfully, There are twenty pieces in total, four wen. The couple frowned slightly and said, Didnt you just crush a piece earlier? Zhou Wulang promptly offered the sugar in his palm, We havent eaten it. The couple replied, Then we dont want it either, decrease one wen; were buying quite a lot. Zhou Wulang was very upset, but Manbao somehow pulled out another piece of candy and put it on the wax paper, looking happily at the couple, There, isnt that better? You can count them. The couple: ... After counting the candy, they asked, Is it possible to trade for something else? Finally sensing their unfriendliness, Manbao covered the wax paper and declined, No, it isnt. Zhou Wulang thought it was possible, so he nudged Manbaos back, but she twisted around and shot him a glare, saying, The pharmacy requires money for medicine, not eggs, nor grain. Only then did the couple realize they were meant to buy medicine, and after a moments thought, they decided not to negotiate further and counted out four wen for them. Manbao never lacked money in her hands; the red envelopes her parents and brothers gave her during the New Yearand even those from her nephews and nieceswere all handed over, except hers which she could keep for herself. But earning money herself was a first, so she carefully inspected the four wen and after finding it no different from before, she carefully stored it in her handkerchief, clutching it tightly. After they had left, Zhou Wulang said to Manbao, That was too cheap, our candy is the good stuff. Thats what they sell it for at the market, Manbao insisted. There are lower, middle, and upper grades of rice, and different grades mean different prices. Our candy should be top grade, so it should be a bit more expensive, Zhou Wulang said. If they dont believe our candy is good, we can do like we did this time and crush it to let them try a little bit. Manbao thought it over carefully, and after asking Keke, who also agreed, nodded and said, Okay, then well do it this way next time. Having earned money, everyone turned their gaze to the crushed candy in Zhou Wulangs hand, and they all swallowed their saliva in unison. Having earned money with candy, Manbao finally experienced the joy of sweets and thus found them tasty as well. She divided up the small pieces among everyone, each getting a little piece, and the last bit she put in her mouth. It was a very small piece that barely touched her tongue before it began to spread a thread of sweetness, then the sugar dissolved, and with a swallow, it was gone. Manbao blinked, feeling that this little bit of candy was tastier than any she had eaten before. She found it strange and asked Keke, Ive never found the candy tasty before, Keke, did you change the brand or something? The system said, No, its the same brand, from the same manufacturer. The difference is probably because the host has finally realized the rarity and the benefits of sugar, right? Manbao didnt quite understand but had her own interpretation, Is it because once candy is sold it tastes better? Great, from now on Ill have to sell the candy and then keep one piece for myself to eat, then it will be delicious. The system fell silent and didnt stop her. Sell on, for if one sells, one must buy and once the points are spent, its time to earn them again, right? Chapter 24 - 24 13 Not Enough Money ?24: Chapter 13: Not Enough Money 24: Chapter 13: Not Enough Money Ms. Feng brought over a bowl of boiled eggs, and by then, the children had already finished their sugar and were gathered around Manbao, admiring her four coins. Ms. Feng paused when she saw the money and asked, Young girl, where did this money come from? Manbao proudly lifted her head, We earned it ourselves, selling sugar. Ms. Feng thought the sugar had been bought by her husband for Manbao in the past and said helplessly, Why didnt you eat it, but sold it instead? It was meant for your health. Zhou Erlang would buy a coins worth of sugar every time he came to the market, and he only took out one piece to dissolve in water for the children to share, while the remaining four pieces were always for Manbao. It wasnt that they favored Manbao especially and didnt care about the other children. Rather, it was something a doctor had said when Manbao was very young, This child has a weak spleen and stomach, shortness of breath, and lack of strength; she should eat more eggs and honey. At that time, the familys situation was not good, and Manbao was only a few months old. She couldnt swallow the bitter medicine, so they could only feed her egg water and honey water. That honey was something Old Zhou had to ask around in several nearby villages and spend a lot of money to buy, as it was hard to come by and very expensive. Latter on, the doctor said, If theres no honey, maltose will do; both are good for the lungs and strengthening the spleen and stomach. You could say that Manbao owes her growth and healthy appearance to the familys eggs and sugar. It was also because Manbao had grown healthier over the last two years that the Zhou family truly believed that the doctor was right. They might not have been able to offer her other luxuries, but they had their own chickens for eggs, and they could afford sugar. With three market days every week, she could get four pieces of sugar each time. So, in Manbaos heart, she really didnt lack for sugar. Thats why, when she first formally met Keke, who tried to win her over with sugar, she wasnt very interested. After trying the sugar Keke gave her, she even complained it was too sweet and ended up sharing some with her nephews and nieces as usual. Seeing their eyes squint with joy, Manbao then became good friends with the suddenly appearing Keke. Manbao didnt lack for sugar, because in addition to what was bought for her at home, Keke would give her treats now and then, but Ms. Feng didnt know this. She gave Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang a stern look for not advising her and handed the bowl to Manbao, Hungry, huh? Your Second Sister-in-law cooked you some eggs, eat up. Holding the bowl, Manbao first offered Ms. Feng a taste, Second Sister-in-law, have a bite too. You didnt have any of the cake earlier. Ms. Feng pushed it back with a smile, Im not hungry yet. Ill eat with your Dalang and Second Brother when they come back. Manbao didnt suspect anything, for she too enjoyed eating meals with her family. Wait, why didnt she wait for Dalang and Second Brother before eating the cake? She felt a bit guilty about that. As Manbao pondered, she offered the egg to Datou and the others. Everyone shook their heads. While they were happy to eat the sugar, they wouldnt take the eggs. Though they longed to eat them, they knew those eggs werent just eggs for the young girl; they were her medicine. Only then did Manbao eat all the eggs and afterward asked Ms. Feng to take her to buy medicine for her mother. Ms. Feng stroked her head with a smile, Second Sister-in-law doesnt have any money with her. Well go after your Dalang and the others come back. Manbao handed over her handkerchief with the coins, I have money! Ms. Feng sighed, But this isnt enough. Their mother-in-law was on medication all year round, but she only took the cheapest medicine, which only treated the symptoms, not the root cause. To truly cure her, who knew how much money they would need. Ms. Qian regularly took two prescriptions. One could be purchased from the doctor in Dali Village, which was the only doctor in the four surrounding villages. Besides the portion of medicines procured from a pharmacy, most of what the doctor had was harvested by himself from the mountains. Buying from him, a prescription only cost eight coins, and the Zhou Family was very frugal. They would use one prescription to brew four doses, which was Ms. Qians medicine for two days. If Ms. Qians condition worsened, they would have to go to the pharmacy in the county to buy the medicine listed on the other prescription, which had a more expensive ingredient costing twenty coins per prescription. Ms. Feng didnt have any money on her. Today everyone buying baskets or sieves had bartered with goods, and while they had collected quite a few eggs and grains, they had not received a single coin. There was no other way, so everyone could only squat behind their stall and wait for Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang to return. It wasnt until past lunchtime that Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang came back with gloomy faces, pushing the cart with the two large bags of grain still on it. Ms. Feng was alarmed and ran over to help push the cart, asking, Why didnt it sell? Zhou Erlang said with an ugly expression, The price was too low, just eight coins for one dou of grain. Ms. Feng couldnt help raising her voice, Only eight coins? Wasnt it ten coins before? Zhou Dalang squatted on the ground and said, Grain prices have fallen, this years harvest was not bad, and they say the granaries arent lacking grain. Being from the same village, Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang had talked with the other party for a long time, yet they couldnt raise the price. Their family really needed the money, and the brothers couldnt bear to sell the grain at such a low price, so they pulled it back home. Ms. Fengs eyes reddened as she could hardly hold back her tears, So what do we do? Zhou Erlang squatted on the ground for a long while before saying, There are people at the market wanting to exchange the grain for hemp cloth, and the cotton cloth used for making shoes can also be bartered with grain, but mothers medicine must be bought with money. We still need to sell the grain. It wont do, well go to the county town tomorrow to see if we can get a better price than at the market. Manbao immediately took out her four coins, Big Brother, Second Brother, I have money! Seeing these four coins, Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang were taken aback and asked, Where did you get this? Selling sugar! Zhou Dalang took it, sighed, and said, Were still short by four coins. Manbao was considering whether she should peel another twenty pieces of sugar to sell when Zhou Erlang had already stood up, saying, Ill take some things to barter. Zhou Erlang had many acquaintances in the market, and he took a portion from the wheat collected by Ms. Feng, weighing it roughly before heading out. It wasnt long before he returned with five coins. Zhou Dalang was curious, Who did you barter with? Very few people at this villages market actually spent money. I exchanged with Old Wang, who sells sugar. He needs wheat for making sugar, and I sold it to him at a fair price. Zhou Dalang was relieved and handed him Manbaos coins as well. Zhou Erlang used the money to buy a prescription of medicine. As the number of people in the market began to decrease, they lost the drive to keep their stall open. Familiar with the area, Zhou Erlang went to barter for cloth and cured meat before packing up with everyone to head home. The cloth was handed over to their mother, who allocated tasks for making clothes, while Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang went to speak with Old Zhou. Manbao followed behind, trotting into the house with them. Seeing her imitating their father, walking behind them with her hands clasped behind her back, Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang couldnt help but sweat a little and decided to simply lift her onto their lap, then reported to Old Zhou about the market situation. Hearing that the grain couldnt sell for a good price made Old Zhou want to smoke again. He sighed and said, We need to have some cash at home. Not to mention your mother needs the medicine, but what if we have an emergency? Zhou Erlang also nodded, Ive gathered quite a few eggs while going to the market recently, and I need to sell them in the county town. Although Dali Village market occasionally had someone buying eggs, most people would barter with grain, which meant that Zhou Erlang had to sell grain to the granaries to get the money. Thats why Zhou Erlang rarely sold eggs at the market, preferring to take them to the county town, where eggs sold better than grain. Old Zhou nodded, caressing his old smoking pipe and said, The day after tomorrow then. You two will accompany me and Manbao to school tomorrow. Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang agreed. It was then that Manbao voiced her opinion, Dad, I want to go to the county town too. Chapter 25 - 25 14 Becoming a Disciple (Part One) ?25: Chapter 14: Becoming a Disciple (Part One) 25: Chapter 14: Becoming a Disciple (Part One) Old Zhou glanced at his daughter and asked, What are you going to the county for? Manbao couldnt say she was going to sell candy since her family had always suspected that her candy was given by Mr. Zhuang or the students at the academy. She was worried that they might bring it up when they went to inquire about apprenticeships the next day. So she could only make up another excuse, I want to go and broaden my horizon. Zhou ErLang said, What kind of horizon can a little child like you possibly need to broaden? Wait until you grow up a bit more before going. But by the time she grew up, they would no longer be short of money. Also, Manbao had a significant harvest today, and she felt like she needed to verify her own conclusions. So she insisted, No, I must go the day after tomorrow. Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother are going too. Just let them take me, Big Brother and Second Brother dont have to worry. Old Zhou looked sternly at her. Was Manbao afraid of him? Of course not. She slid off the legs of Zhou Dalang to the ground, rushed forward, and clung to Old Zhous arm, twining around him like a twisty candy, Dad, Dad, please agree to it. Seeing that he remained unmoved, Manbao tugged at his sleeve while punching his shoulder lightly with her small fists, Dad, Ill go buy you candy to eat, just agree, please. Could Old Zhou be bribed with candy? He was not a child after all. But still, Where would you get the money? I will earn it, Dad, just allow me to go to the county, and I will be able to earn money, Manbao said as she moved from massaging his left shoulder to the right. Seeing this, Zhou Dalang couldnt help but laugh, and spoke on her behalf, Dad, let her go. It just so happens that after two days we not only have to take grains but also some eggs. Two traded quite a few eggs that cant be transported on the cart but need to be carried on our backs. Zhou Er thought too, It seems like Little Sister has never been to the county before. Since Five and Sixth are also going, Im thinking of bringing some winnowing baskets and carrying baskets to sell there. The prices in the county are a bit higher than in the market, and we might make a good profit. Old Zhou finally kept quiet. Manbao redoubled her efforts to massage his shoulders, Dad, please agree, agree to it. Persistently nagging from one ear to the other, Old Zhou was annoyed by her noise and waved his hand, Alright, alright, you can go. But you do know that your brothers have to leave before it gets light, will you be able to get up that early? I can get up, I get up really early! Believe her? Old Zhou said, If you dont wake up, we will not wake you, and if you cant go, youre not allowed to cry. Manbao was confident, I will definitely wake up. She then instructed the system in her mind, Keke, you must wake me up the day after tomorrow, alright? Keke had not expected to function as an alarm clock as well, but since it wanted its host to go out and see the world, it nodded in agreement. Ms.Qian had already assigned the tasks of tailoring clothes and making shoes. The clothes made by farm families were not that delicate; after cutting well, just sewing up was enough, and it was fine as long as the stitches were neat and firm. The best tailor in the family was Third Sister-in-law Ms.He. She took on the task and started cutting the cloth. Mr. Zhuangs physique was similar to Zhou Ers, so she used Zhou Ers measurements for the tailoring. To finish by the next day, Ms.He didnt have to do anything else in the afternoon, she just focused on tailoring and mending. Ms.Qian was even unusually generous, lighting an oil lamp for their use after dark. Nevertheless, the work was completed swiftly. Ms.Qian was responsible for making shoes. The soles were also ready-made, using the same ones as Zhou Ers because he walked a lot, and Ms.Feng had specially made thicker soles for him, which were very comfortable to step on. The uppers used cotton cloth specifically purchased for the shoes, which was much better than the homespun fabric they made. The next day, Old Zhou and his two sons got out their best clothes, washed and cleaned up, then had Junior Ms.Qian dig their daughter out of bed to prepare for visiting the school to seek apprenticeship. Manbao had peeled candy late into the night, and just as she was turning over in bed, sticking out her buttocks, she was reluctant to get up. Seeing that she kept burrowing into the blanket, Junior Ms.Qian took over her jacket, flipped the blanket, and smacked her little buttocks, Little miss, its getting late; you have to be good today since youre going to pay respects to your teacher. Holding her, she helped her put on her clothes and then, with her eyes still closed, she carried her to the chair and used a wrung-out towel to wipe her face. The water was warm, but Manbao still jolted awake and reluctantly opened her eyes. It was Ms.Fengs turn to cook today, and she brought from the kitchen a bowl of egg water, placing it on the table, Little miss, remember to drink the egg water before you go. The sun had just begun to rise, and Old Zhou led his two sons, followed by Manbao, to the school. Mr. Zhuang knew that Manbao would come to seek apprenticeship today. He also got up early and was practicing boxing in the courtyard. Seeing Mr. Zhuang, Old Zhous back instinctively straightened out of reverence for the learned. Mr. Zhuang smiled warmly, Old Zhou has arrived? Please come inside. Yes, yes, Mr. Zhuang, please go ahead. Old Zhou bowed and let Mr. Zhuang enter first. However, Manbao was quite familiar with Mr. Zhuang and very forward; she first escorted Mr. Zhuang into the study to sit down. Then, she went to help her father. Looking around and seeing a familiar stove burning, she eagerly carried water over for them. Zhou Dalang and Zhou Er hurried over to take the water from her. Manbao never did such chores at home, and what if she scalded her hand? Mr. Zhuang, however, was very pleased and, stroking his beard, smiled at Old Zhou, Old Zhou, you have raised a good daughter. In all the surrounding miles, Ive not seen a child more clever than her. Its all thanks to your teaching, Old Zhou knew about Manbao peeking in at the study from the window. Initially, he was distressed, but after worrying, the only thing he could do was let his girl learn as much as she could sneakily. Because he knew the more skilled she became, the better her life would be. As long as Mr. Zhuang did not drive Manbao away, he wouldnt restrict the child. So, regarding Mr. Zhuang, Old Zhou had always been full of reverence and gratitude, and his back was bent even more now. Mr. Zhuang, still smiling, said, The child is good on her own. She is not only clever but also filial. She knows to clean up the yard for me and to think of her parents and family. It shows the good family upbringing of Old Zhou. Ive decided to take this child as my disciple. However, I can only teach her by my side for now; as for entering the school, we still need to ask Old Master Bais permission. After all, it was Old Master Bai who had founded the school, and he too had been employed by Old Master Bai. Old Zhous spirits lifted, and he immediately replied, Actually, being able to study under you is already enough; whether or not she enters the school doesnt matter. Old Zhou was worried about the necessity of contributing tuition for the apprenticeship. His face flushed red as he said, Mr. Zhuang also knows, my family is poor... Faltering and not finishing his sentence, Old Zhou tensed, but Mr. Zhuang understood and laughed heartily, Old Zhou, rest assured, since I am taking Manbao as a disciple, I consider her as my own child, and naturally, I wouldnt collect any tuition. He paused then added, I am also aware of the difficulties your family faces, and since Manbao is still young, theres no need to buy anything for her. In the future, as she learns to read and write, she can copy textbooks here at my place. Actually, the Zhou family coming to seek apprenticeship for Manbao was not something Mr. Zhuang had been completely certain about beforehand. Now that the Zhou family had arrived, Mr. Zhuang couldnt help but exclaim inwardly at how much the Zhou family cherished Manbao. Chapter 26 - 26 15 Becoming a Disciple (Part 2) ?26: Chapter 15: Becoming a Disciple (Part 2) 26: Chapter 15: Becoming a Disciple (Part 2) Studying was difficult. In this world, too few people could read and write. The reasons were threefold, lack of money, lack of opportunity, and insufficient intelligence. Previously, not a single village had a school, and children had to go to the county town to study. However, even providing basic necessities like food and clothing was difficult for most, let alone the ability of even somewhat wealthy families to afford their childrens education. It wasnt until Old Master Bai moved to Qili Village with his family that this changed; his two young masters needed to be educated, so he went to the county town specifically to hire Mr. Zhuang. Although Mr. Zhuang hadnt passed the imperial examination to become an advanced scholar, he was nonetheless educated at the prefectural school and was a man of good character and integrity. Why would he be willing to come to a small mountain village like Qili to teach for just a common salary? To offer Mr. Zhuang a salary tempting enough to persuade him, Old Master Bai was quite reluctant. In the end, he came up with a solution: the Bai Family would fund the establishment of a school for Mr. Zhuang, providing the larger part of his salary, and they would then recruit suitable children from nearby to attend, each paying their own share of the tuition fees. Over time, these small amounts would accumulate to a generous compensation. The school was built by Old Master Bai, but it belonged to Mr. Zhuang, who also kept the students tuition fees. Naturally, he had the final say in which students were admitted. However, out of courtesy or perhaps because of his collaborative relationship with Old Master Bai, whether Manbao could enter the school to study was something that had to be communicated with Old Master Bai. Yet Mr. Zhuang felt there was no rush with this matter because Manbao was still young, and it was fine for her to start off slowly learning the basics with him. After the new year, when she was a bit older, she could formally join the school. The fact that the Zhou Family was willing to allow Manbao to come out and study was already quite remarkable. When Mr. Zhuang first arrived, he recruited students from several nearby villages. The adults understood the benefits of education and would encourage their sons and nephews to work hard to earn money so they could attend school. Yet when they saw the yearning in the girls eyes, their reaction was to scold, What are you girls joining the fuss for? Rush home. Are academic matters for you to concern yourself with? Manbao, eavesdropping from outside the window, had initially caused quite a stir in Qili Village the child was young and knew nothing. But Mr. Zhuang was aware that the Clan Elders had approached Old Master Bai to have Junior Ms. Qian dismissed from her duties to prevent Manbao from eavesdropping and corrupting the villages customs. He was the one who stopped it. Firstly, because Junior Ms. Qian was indeed diligent and not troublesome, and secondly, at that time, he was quite fond of Manbao. So he said, Everyone harbors a desire for learning; why stifle it? Then, more children began sneaking to the windows to listen. At peak times, both windows were crowded with boys. In the scholars circle, this was considered unethical behavior, but since Mr. Zhuang had spoken, he couldnt discriminate based on who was listening. Because of this incident, several students immediately withdrew from the school. Their parents took back the tuition fees and sent their children to the windows to learn stealthily. Mr. Zhuang, exasperated, could only keep his anger to himself and pretend not to see the people outside the windows. But not everyone was like Manbao. She was just over a year old at the time, only recently having learned to speak and still unsteady on her feet. Her understanding of the outside world was insufficient. Not prone to mischief, she could sit quietly on the threshold and play by herself all day, occasionally repeating a line from the classroom if the mood struck her, or amusing herself poking at ants with a small stick. The youngest child clinging outside the window was seven, the eldest, ten precisely the age when they are most restless and play-hungry. Within five days, they had mostly run off on their own. The parents of the children who had withdrawn were furious. Not only had their children failed to learn anything new, but they had also nearly forgotten what they had previously learned. Out of options and quite irate, they were forced to send their children back to school. From then on, very few boys came to eavesdrop. Instead, one or two girls began to cautiously peer in through the windows. Before Mr. Zhuang could react, the parents of these girls were the first to erupt. They would drag their daughters away and then chide them, Are you supposed to be studying? You must be getting too big for your britches. Go and cut pig grass, weed the fields, gather firewood in the mountains. You dont seem to have any work in your eye, how are you going to get married in the future... In fact, some of these attitudes were once Mr. Zhuangs own beliefs. For example: the idea that educating boys was more important than educating girls he too had valued boys more. But whether it was because he was getting older and considering more or because people tend to develop a rebellious streak when faced with things they cannot abide, he unwittingly changed many of his opinions. Especially as Manbao grew day by day, her intelligence and astuteness became more and more apparent. She memorized more texts by listening at the window than the students seated inside the school, and she recognized as many characters from his manuscripts as those students did. She was also dutiful, aware that after listening to his lesson, she should address him as Teacher, knew to help him tidy up the courtyard and clean off his desk... When he fell ill, and the official students were told they could take a break, they ran out, but she busied herself fetching him a cup of hot water and took his clothes to her sisters-in-law to wash... She would even hassle her mother for an extra egg to bring to him. He knew the Zhou Family doted on their youngest daughter, but he was uncertain if they were willing to let her study. So, to increase the likelihood and ensure this turned into a positive development, he didnt want any tuition, nor did he expect the Zhou Family to buy ink, paper, and writing utensils for Manbao. The extent of the Zhou Familys commitment came as a pleasant surprise to him. For they brought not only a piece of cured meat but also a full set of clothes and a pair of shoes. Mr. Zhuang couldnt help laughing. It seemed the Zhou Family indeed valued this little disciple highly, and he gladly accepted their gifts. Old Zhou breathed a sigh of relief seeing this and hastily had Manbao kneel down to kowtow and present tea to Mr. Zhuang. Mr. Zhuang took a sip of the tea and handed Manbao a set of writing materials he had prepared in advance, oh, and also a bunch of scallions he had pulled from the backyard. Having acquired such a clever and adept disciple, Mr. Zhuang was very pleased. Old Zhou and his sons were also delighted. From Mr. Zhuangs tone, Manbao wouldnt need to worry about books for now; whatever was required could be copied by hand when the time came. The three men discreetly glanced at the items Manbao held tightly in her arms, thinking that, with the writing materials already acquired, they would just need to buy her some paper, and everything would be set. Although the household would incur an additional expense, it was much less than initially anticipated, so naturally, everyone was very happy about it. Manbao was happy too. Everyone delights in receiving gifts, especially when they come from her beloved Mr. Zhuang. Everyone was in high spirits. Old Zhou wanted to invite Mr. Zhuang home for a meal to celebrate Manbaos apprenticeship. Mr. Zhuang, however, shook his head and declined, saying, I still have classes to teach today. Ill come to bother you some other day. It only then occurred to Old Zhou that Mr. Zhuang had lessons to teach and he immediately became somewhat restless. As they spoke, the sound of childrens playful chasing and shouting reached them from outside, and Mr. Zhuang knew the students had arrived. Chapter 27 - 27 16 Son and Daughter ?27: Chapter 16 Son and Daughter 27: Chapter 16 Son and Daughter Mr. Zhuang patted Manbaos head and smiled, You take the brush and ink back with you today. Tomorrow, when I have a day off, Ill make a trip to the Bai Family. The day after tomorrow, youll come back to the school. You are still young, and dont need to learn anything in particular yet. Just start by recognizing some characters with me. Next year when youre a little older, you can start writing and formally begin reading. Tomorrow is the fifteenth. His school only gives two days off a month, which are the fifteenth and sixteenth. Manbao, delighted, agreed and went home with her father and brothers, holding the box containing the brush, ink, and inkstone. As soon as she got home, Erya and Second Son, who were still at home, crowded around and reverently touched the inkstone. Just as they reached out, Ms. Feng swatted their hands away, saying, Dont touch. This belongs to your younger aunt. In the future, you need to keep your distance, understand? Manbao was displeased and pulled Second Son and Erya to her, saying, When I learn to write, I will teach you. Ms. Feng thought for a moment and said, Scrap teaching Erya, just teach Second Son. Why? Erya is even smarter than Second Son. Ms. Feng laughed, Its no use for a girl to learn this. Erya still needs to go gather pigweed. Manbao protested, How is it of no use? Once you learn to read, you can read books on your own. There are so many stories in books, and they are so interesting. Ms. Feng found it amusing, With the time spent reading stories, it would be better off weeding the fields. If she wants to hear stories, we can just tell her. Erya couldnt help but say, Mom, I want to learn to read. Ms. Feng tapped her on the head, Dont stir up trouble with your aunt. Have you washed todays clothes? If not, hurry to the riverside to wash. Erya, feeling wronged, didnt dare to cry out loud and went to pick up the dirty laundry with her head down. Manbao was so angry her face puffed up, but before she could get angry, Ms. Feng seated her on a chair and carefully placed the box in front of her, Young aunt, wheres the paper you brought back earlier? Let Second Son find it for you to practice reading. If youre tired, rest. If youre hungry, just let me know, and I will get you something to eat. Manbao looked blankly at Second Sister-in-law, feeling this was the Second Sister-in-law she knew, yet it was also Second Sister-in-law who had spoken about Erya just before! Sitting in the chair in low spirits, Manbaos dejection wasnt apparent on her little face. Ms. Feng, believing she had arranged everything for the young aunt, went to work in the kitchen. Second Son had already run to find the draft paper Manbao once brought back from Mr. Zhuangs place. Manbao had a lot on her mind, many questions she couldnt ask others, so she could only talk to the system. Keke, why wont Second Sister-in-law let Erya learn to read? The system bluntly shared the research findings of future humanity with Manbao, Because she values males over females. This was the first time Manbao had heard the term, but it was simple and easy to understand upon glancing at its meaning. So she widened her eyes, puzzled, and asked, Why? Isnt she a woman too? This is an inertia of thought that has persisted for thousands of years, the system explained. Its roots lie in agrarian societies where physical strength was needed for production, and since men are generally stronger than women, they were valued more. Over time, this evolved into a distorted ethic that sees only male descendants as the continuation of a family lineage, while women are seen as mere appendages to men. Manbao objected, My parents adore me, and my brothers value me too. A surge of electricity flashed through the systems core. It cut off the conclusion it had deduced, choosing not to voice it. The system continued, You are an exception. Havent you noticed that apart from you, the status of all the women in your family lies below that of the men? Keke was a data collection system, not an educational system, so it didnt understand that some things shouldnt be said to children. It gave Manbao examples, Your mother is below your father, your sisters-in-law are below your brothers, and your nieces are treated far worse than your nephews. Normally, your brothers and their sons eat solid food while your sisters-in-law and their daughters eat porridge. Only during the busy farming season are they allowed solid food, the system said. Your sisters-in-law must serve your brothers by bringing them washbasins and emptying them; your brothers never do the same for their wives. Manbao was stunned, My mom says that my brothers have to do hard physical work, so they need to eat solids. The system responded, Your sisters-in-law also do hard physical work. Manbao thought about it and agreed. She looked down in thought and then asked, Does that mean if one day women become stronger than men, we will turn around and value women over men? The system referenced the studies of future historians, Before the slave society and even further back was the matrilineal clan society, centered around women. It probably belongs to what you refer to as valuing women over men. Manbao, curious, pursued further, Were women physically stronger than men back then? No, they prevailed through childbirth. Because they could bear children and create labor, their status was above mens, and children only recognized their mothers and knew nothing of their fathers. Manbao pondered this and shook her head, Neither is good. I dont like favoring males, nor favoring females. Arent we all people, equally important? The system seemed to gaze into the ether at its host and after a moment, added, In the future, it will be possible. With the development of technology and the advancement of productivity, social relationships will also change. The future features more intellectual work. When it comes to intelligence, many girls are no less capable than boys, hence slowly, both have come to stand on the same ground. Manbao half-understood the first part of the explanation, and the system also felt it was too complex to explain the relationship between productive forces and social relations. So it put it simply for Manbao, The economic foundation determines the superstructure. If your sister-in-law earns much more money than your brother, then your brother would have to listen to her, and she would assert herself with more confidence. Manbao, clutching her little face, questioned, So if Erya earns more money than Second Son, will Second Sister-in-law cherish Erya more and let her learn to read? In theory, yes, said the system. Manbao immediately jumped off the chair and said sternly, I think thats wrong. Second Sister-in-law should cherish Erya because she is her daughter, not just if she can earn money. I need to talk to Second Sister-in-law. The system didnt stop her. Manbao hurried off to the kitchen to find Ms. Feng, Second Sister-in-law, do you like Second Son more and not Erya as much? As she washed the pots, Ms. Feng smiled and inquired, Where did you hear that, young aunt? Second Son and Erya are both my children. How could I not like Erya? Then why wont you let Erya learn to read? Ms. Feng answered matter-of-factly, Its of no use for her. Manbao was stunned, How can it be of no use? Reading is very useful. Why else would so many people spend money to go to school? Thats for boys. Do you see any girls spending money to attend school? Manbao insisted, I am! Unable to hold back a laugh, Ms. Feng said, Young aunt, youre different. Besides, Mr. Zhuang doesnt charge you tuition, and he doesnt even plan to make you buy textbooks. You havent spent much money. Chapter 28 - 28 17 Uncommon Insight ?28: Chapter 17: Uncommon Insight 28: Chapter 17: Uncommon Insight Ms. Feng said to Manbao, A man can become a bookkeeper or a school teacher if he studies, and if hes really good, he might even be eligible to take the civil service exam. But what use is reading for a woman? Once of age, theyre to marry off, either to work the fields or to manage household chores. Whether they can read or not, what does it matter? Manbao was left speechless, yet in her heart, she always felt that what Second Sister-in-law said was not right. After some thought, she finally found an argument to counter, The teacher said, Reading enlightens the mind.'' Ms. Feng retorted, Principles, well, a little chat and you understand. Dont worry, little niece, I will explain it to Erya. Look at us, dont we all manage without knowing how to read? Which of us doesnt understand principles? Girls all learn principles from their mums. Unable to out argue her, Manbao drooped her shoulders and said, If Erya can make money by recognizing characters, will you agree to let her learn to read? Ms. Feng replied, She cant be a bookkeeper, she cant become a school teacher, and she certainly cant take the civil service exam. How can she make money by recognizing characters? I dont care, Second Sister-in-law. You must first promise me, if she can make money by recognizing characters, you have to agree to let her learn to read with me. Alright, alright, Ms. Feng said perfunctorily, I promise you. Okay, I need to start a fire now. The smoke in the kitchen is thick, you better get out quickly. Manbao didnt care whether she was sincere or not, taking her word as a promise, so Manbao ran off looking for Erya. Second Son came out with a manuscript and, noticing the little niece was gone, immediately dropped it and went to look for her. He was responsible for taking care of the little niece; how could he lose her? Manbao ran to the riverside searching for Erya. A group of people was gathered by the river doing laundry. As Manbao approached, everyone greeted her, and a woman called out loudly, Oh, Manbao has come to do the laundry! With so many girls in your Zhou Family, why make use of the little niece? Erya also saw Manbao and quickly stopped her from getting too close to the river, Little niece, why have you come here? Mom doesnt allow you to come to the river. Manbao said, I came to find you. I still need to wash the clothes. You go back first, little niece, Erya replied. It was the same woman who said, Manbao, you should also help your niece. Youre not that young anymore, and your family is now facing difficulties. You cant live in luxury as you did before. Manbao felt her words made sense and nodded continuously, Second Sister-in-law is right, I will help Erya. Just so, she wanted to try washing clothes herself; she had never done it before, having grown up so large. Manbao, looking at the river water, had stars in her eyes, completely forgetting why she had come there in the first place. Erya dared not let Manbao wash clothes, unable to help but scold the woman, Third Sister-in-law, whether my house has many kids or who does the laundry is none of your business, right? Oh, Erya, this little girl is getting feisty. Did you learn that from your Fourth Uncle? Dont be so feisty, or else dont come borrowing money from us. Manbao was startled, then came to a realization and hastily went to smooth things over, Sanzhus wife, is it that your family is short on money? Rest assured, as soon as my family earns some, we will make sure to repay your family first. Thinking of how she was going to earn money in town tomorrow, she confidently slapped her chest and said, I am going to the county town to earn money tomorrow, and when I come back, I will repay your family. Just a few years old, still speaking in a childs voice, yet imitating adults, the first part of what she said made everyone burst into laughter, but by the end, no one could laugh anymore. Someone couldnt help but ask Erya, Erya, your family isnt really going to sell your little niece, are they? Erya replied shrilly, What nonsense are you talking about? How could our family sell the little niece? Manbao also said sternly, Our family doesnt sell children. Third Sister-in-law, unable to hold back, said, But how can you earn money so quickly? The busy farming season is over, there is no work in the fields, and you cant possibly get any work in the town either, can you? Manbao said with pride, We plan to sell flowers. Just you wait, we will definitely make money. Third Sister-in-law asked, What kind of flowers? Manbao opened her mouth and finally said, All kinds of flowers. Erya pulled Manbao aside and said, Little niece, please go home. Ill take you out to play after I finish washing the clothes, okay? Manbao shook her head, her gaze intense as she looked at the crystal-clear river water, No, Erya, I am an adult now. Let me help you with the laundry. How could that be okay? Erya protested. Why not? said Manbao seriously. I am your aunt; you must listen to me. The onlookers, seeing this, all helped Erya to hold Manbao back. Who didnt know she was the treasure of the Zhou Family? And with her frail health from a young age, if she caught a chill from the water, what would become of her? The Zhou matriarchs would tear them apart. But Third Sister-in-law was indifferent. Wasnt she also a child once? At Manbaos age, she could already cook a meal. Washing clothes was trivial. What was so special about it? Her eyes shifted, and she stepped aside to make room for Manbao next to her and handed her a piece of her own familys laundry, Here, Manbao, let me show you how to wash. Manbao wasnt foolish. She could distinguish between her own familys laundry and that of others, so she happily asked Third Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, do I get paid for helping you with the laundry? You dont have to give me anything, just deduct it from the debt. Hearing this, Third Sister-in-law immediately retracted the clothes and said sharply, Ive seen it now, you really know how to earn money. Ive never heard of charging someone to wash a piece of laundry. If you were my aunt, a senior, of course, I wouldnt ask for money; that would be me showing respect. But arent you my nephews wife? So of course, as your senior doing work for you, I must be paid, Manbao, having grown up beside her father, understood this principle very well. She still wanted to wash clothes for Third Sister-in-law, Sanzhus wife, dont worry, I wont ask for much, just a coin will do, just for the gesture. Those who didnt care for Third Sister-in-laws attitude also laughed, Yes, yes, Third Sister-in-law, Manbao is your aunt, after all. If your aunt washes your clothes, youve got to give a little token of gratitude. Some of the older ones also said, Although Manbao is young, shes of high seniority. Third Sister-in-law, you really shouldnt bully your senior. Third Sister-in-law was quite annoyed and just rinsed the clothes a bit before leaving in a huff. Manbao still waved from behind, Second Sister-in-law, next time you dont feel like washing clothes, just let me know. Ill wash them for you, really cheap. Erya couldnt help but laugh, calling out after her, Third Sister-in-law, I can also help you wash, even cheaper! Enough, enough, dont tease her, someone intervened, Erya, your family still owes money to the village head. Erya felt a bit downcast thinking about this. But Manbao didnt feel the pressure. In her mind, she would surely earn a lot of money after going to the county town the next day. She would be able to repay the debts and added, The village head and his daughter-in-law are different; hes generous, and his daughter-in-law still has a lot to learn. Hearing Manbaos words, everyone couldnt help but laugh, This child talks like an adult. What do you know about being generous? Manbao puffed her cheeks and said, Im not stupid, my nephews wife doesnt like me, but thats okay, I am her senior, I wont stoop down to her level. Children are the most sensitive, they are very clear about who likes them and who doesnt. But thats okay, Sanzhu is her nephew and Sanzhus wife her nephews wife. As a senior, she wont stoop to their level. Chapter 29 - 29 18 Flower Basket ?29: Chapter 18: Flower Basket 29: Chapter 18: Flower Basket Zhou Family never let Manbao get close to the river, this was her first time coming into such close contact with the river water. She happily soaked her hands, playing delightedly. Glancing to the side, she saw Erya busily scrubbing clothes. She pulled over a piece of clothing and imitated her scrubbing it, then put it into the water to stir, before trying to wring it out like everyone else. Erya watched silently. After Manbao was done, she re-washed the clothes quickly and then dragged the young girl back home, prepared for the beating that awaited her upon their return. Manbao was still in high spirits, The river water is so refreshing, so much fun. Erya, Ill come with you to wash clothes from now on. No, Erya refused, Little aunt, not only can you not wash them clean, but if granny finds out, Ill get a beating, and you should just play with Second Son at home. No, I want to play in the water, said Manbao, I have already agreed with Second Sister-in-law, Ill teach you how to read, and then you have to take me to wash clothes. Erya hesitated a bit, My mom agreed? Of course, Manbao said proudly, I begged for a long time. Erya half-doubted, but as soon as she returned home, she dragged little aunt to the kitchen to find her mom. Ms. Feng was making breakfast, she saw Erya and had her come over to help with the fire, telling Manbao to go out and not to smoke up the kitchen. While going to make the fire, Erya asked, Mom, did little aunt say you agreed to let me learn to read? Ms. Feng glanced at Manbao who was standing there with her chest puffed up, proudly looking at her, and coaxed, Yes, yes, as long as you can earn money with reading, I agree. When Erya heard there was this condition, her whole face soured. Seeing her nearly about to cry, Manbao couldnt help but drag her outside, and said to Ms. Feng, Second Sister-in-law, Erya hasnt hung the laundry yet, Ill help her with the drying. Hey, was all Ms. Feng managed to say before Manbao had already dragged Erya far away. Ms. Feng could do nothing but sigh and go back to tending the fire herself. Manbao pulled Erya into the yard and whispered, Are you silly? It was said that you have to earn money by reading, so how can you earn if you dont learn to read? Tears glistened in Eryas eyes as she began to process the meaning of those words. After blinking away her tears, she asked with a sniffle, Can it really work like that? It was a promise straight from the mouth of Second Sister-in-law. Erya thought for a moment, finding it unreliable, What if, after a while of learning, I still cant make money, and my mom tells me to stop learning? Manbao said seriously, That would mean you didnt learn well enough or deeply enough, which is why you couldnt earn money. So, to earn money, you must continue learning. Erya nodded thoughtfully, Little aunt, I think youre right. Erya perked up again and went to hang the clothes. Manbao, being short, simply handed her the clothes. Second Son, dripping with sweat, ran in from outside. Seeing Manbao standing under the drying rack, he rushed up to ask, Little aunt, where did you go just now? I searched everywhere for you. You really are dumb, I was by the river. Second Son made an Oh sound, then leapt up as if remembering something and exclaimed, Granny told you not to go to the river, oh, Second Sister you... waaa. Erya covered his mouth in a flash, while Manbao threatened him, If you dare to blurt this out, I wont give you any candy. Second Son felt terribly wronged, If you dont want me to tell, then you shouldnt have told me in the first place! Tears welled up in Second Sons eyes, but he changed his tune, Little aunt, I have found all your manuscripts for you, you should go back and take a look. Manbao: Theres no hurry, lets go pick wildflowers, Ive already thought of a way to make money. Second Son and Erya felt it was unreliable, but what could they do? This was what their little aunt wanted, and Ms. Qian had also said, After breakfast, you all go together to clear the fields, and take good care of your little aunt. So everyone once again ran off to the foot of the mountain, Zhou SiLang had been clearing there for two days straight, and the plot of land looked much better. It was about an acre, most of the wild grass had been cut, but the vines and shrubs were tough to remove. Some had roots too deep, and Zhou SiLang alone could barely uproot three in one day. At this moment, his hands were scraped up and he crouched on the ground staring at a stubborn stump that wouldnt budge. Manbao crouched down too, Is it that hard to hoe? Zhou SiLang looked at her with red eyes, So why did you ask me to clear the land? Manbao confidently responded, Who told you to gamble? Zhou SiLang, left speechless, hung his head in sorrow, The hoe is dull, it cant dig anything out. It must be the wrong approach, Manbao, reminded by Keke, snorted and pulled him aside, letting Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother take a crack at it. Zhou Wulang, holding the hoe, asked, To dig that far? Manbao waved her hand grandly, Just listen to me! Zhou Wulang had no choice but to do as told. He hoed the soil away to one side, slowly digging a big hole toward the direction of the roots, and then Liulang yanked them right out with force. Everyone fell silent. Manbao hummed proudly, told Zhou SiLang to keep digging at the roots, while she and Datou went up the mountain to look for pretty flowers. She mentioned her plan on the way, Have Second Brother help us make some nice baskets, well arrange them with flowers like yesterday, then sell the baskets off, and thats it. Isnt that still selling baskets? Second Son said, The baskets are made by my dad, the money from selling them definitely goes to him, he wont give it to us. Manbao replied, Not those big baskets, but the small ones Second Brother made for me. Daya said, You cant carry much in those small baskets; no one will buy them, right? When Second Brother made one for me last time, didnt you all like it very much? The kids started to debate, We liked them, but adults wont buy them. Erya added, Kids dont have money. Then well find kids who do have money. The others felt it was impossible, How could kids have money? They didnt have any, and so they thought all kids around the world were the same. Likewise, Manbao said, How could that be? I have money, so there must be other kids with money like me, maybe even more than me. Well find them. Thats when Manbao revealed her ultimate goal, When the time comes, well put candy in the baskets to sell. Upon hearing there was candy in the baskets, everyone felt a bit more confident and began to search for wildflowers. Although it was autumn, the mountain wasnt short on wildflowers. In no time, everyone had gathered an armful of them. With Manbao there, even Datou and Daya felt emboldened. They left their three diligently working brothers behind, cheerfully heading home. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang looked on with envy, regretting only that they were a few years too old to take advantage of their youngest sisters favors. But then, glancing at Zhou SiLang, who was still cutting grass, they felt much better. At least they could go to town tomorrow, while he was stuck clearing the land. Manbao ran home to look for Zhou Erlang, only to find out he and Zhou Dalang had gone to the fields. The busy farming season might have passed, but the land still needed some tending, to rest for half a year so it would be ready for planting in the coming spring. With Zhou Erlang absent, Manbao had no choice but to turn to her father, Dad, can you make me some small baskets, just like the ones Second Brother made for me? Chapter 30 - 30 19 Seduction ?30: Chapter 19 Seduction 30: Chapter 19 Seduction Old Zhou didnt feel like stirring, Whats the use of making those little baskets? Theyre neither edible nor drinkable. They can be made into flower baskets to earn money, Manbao shared her plan with her dad, only omitting the part about the candy. She confidently said, Once I make money, I can give Dad a bonus for his hard work. Old Zhou touched the tobacco around his waist, not willing to smoke it; he had already decided to sell all the tobacco at home. Although it wasnt worth much, it could still help his wife pick up a few prescriptions. Old Zhou glanced at his daughter and shook his head, Dad doesnt care for that hardship fee, so lets not bother. He didnt want to join the kids foolery. Everyone showed a look of disappointment on their faces, so Manbao went to her mother for support. Ms. Qian, unable to withstand Manbaos cajolery, could only persuade Old Zhou, Whats the big deal? Youre idle anyway, just weave a few for the kids, its not like it takes much effort. With his wife speaking up and his daughter and grandkids looking at him with eager eyes, Old Zhou had no choice but to drag out the discarded bamboo strips from his second sons storeroom to weave bamboo baskets for them. Seeing Datou and Second Son squatting down to watch the fun, he picked them up and said, Come, Grandpa will teach you. Youre not that young anymore, its time to learn a craft. Not many in the village knew how to weave bamboo, but it wasnt particularly rare. However, just learning this skill didnt mean one could excel at it. At least among all the villagers, young and old, only Zhou ErLang was able to sell his bamboo weaving in the market or the county. His bamboo baskets and containers were sturdy and tight, so tight that not even wheat could fall through. But some people, when they weaved baskets and containers, ended up with goods that were just for show. They looked no different from those sold in the market, but after a few uses, the bamboo strips would warp, holes would appear, and the items would be rendered useless. Old Zhous craftsmanship belonged to the latter kind. However, he couldnt weave large baskets; the small bamboo basket that his little daughter held, only as big as her small head, couldnt be that difficult to make, could it? Those were goods just for show, at most capable of holding ten eggs. Old Zhou felt such a basket could last a decade without breaking. Because he didnt take the task seriously and was using bamboo strips discarded by Erlang, he didnt mind letting his grandkids join in and make a mess. Manbao looked on with envy and picked up some bamboo strips to learn as well, also bringing along Daya and Erya. Old Zhou glanced at his granddaughters. This craft wasnt something girls should learn. But looking at the bamboo strips on the ground, Old Zhou thought, let them learn; once used, the strips were hardly usable again, and he wasnt like his second son, unable to restore them. Once the bamboo was used up, there would be no need to weave anymore. Manbao didnt know about her fathers scheme and was earnestly staring at his movements with wide eyes. Old Zhou weaved slowly and said to her, You little kid, cant even bend the bamboo strips. What are you doing in the mix? Be careful not to hurt your hands. Ms. Qian sat in the sun on a stool, smiled at the sight, and beckoned Manbao, Manbao, come here, Mom will teach you. Manbao happily ran over with bamboo strips in hand, Mom, you know how to weave bamboo too? Having watched it all my life, even if I never actually did it, I have a good sense of it. Ms. Qian was ill and unable to do heavy work, but bending some bamboo strips while sitting was still manageable. So she sat there, weaving and explaining to Manbao. This small bamboo craft wasnt difficult and was quickly done; Ms. Qians first product was soon ready. Manbao compared it to the two her dad had finished and wrinkled her nose, Mom, yours looks pretty ugly. Old Zhou laughed proudly, Your dad has weaved quite a few bamboo crafts, of course, they look better than your moms. Ms. Qian wasnt discouraged and beckoned Manbao, Bring a few more strips, Ill make another one. She smiled and said, Practice makes perfect. Its just a matter of learning something new a few times over. Manbao thought what her mother said made sense, and so she brought another handful of bamboo strips to her. The four kids had just shifted from learning from Grandpa to Grandma, and feeling that Grandmas weaving looked ugly, they moved back to Grandpas side. Now, seeing left and right, they were unsure who to learn from. Manbao frowned at them, You cant be so indecisive. Forget it, Datou and Second Son, just stick with Dad, and Daya and Erya, come and learn from Mom. With that, the four kids settled down and stopped wandering around. Ms. Qian watched warmly, feeling that it was still their daughter who was decisive. The most idle person on the scene was Manbao, at least thats how it appeared. In truth, she was also quite busy. As soon as a bamboo basket was made, Manbao took it to discuss with Keke, What do you think, can my moms bamboo baskets be put on sale? The system said, There is nothing in this world that cant be turned into merchandise. You can do secondary processing. Manbao: Then Ill just give it the prettiest flowers. Manbao began to pick what she considered the most beautiful flowers from the pile and inserted them into her moms flower basket. A mix of colors filled the basket, which she really liked, and she beamed happily, This flower basket looks so pretty. Keke was silent for a while before saying, There might not be many people in the world who share the hosts aesthetic sense. Manbao repeated the sentence and, after a delayed realization, asked, Keke, are you saying my flower basket is ugly? Flower baskets are not supposed to look like that. The system couldnt help but search for some images in the encyclopedia and threw them at Manbao, This is how a flower basket should look like. Yours is more like, um, a bamboo woven trash can for flowers. And its a failed trash can. Manbao was no longer listening to what Keke was saying. Her eyes brightened as she stared at those pictures, almost ready to roll on the floor with joy, So pretty, so pretty! Keke, can you give me one? Old Zhou and Ms. Qian only saw their daughter clutching her ruined bamboo basket, laughing so hard that her saliva was almost drooling. The couple exchanged glances, and after looking at the chaotic flowers stuffed into the basket, they felt they needed to pay more attention to their childs education on beauty and uglinesstruly, how could she be so happy with such an ugly basket? Datou and the four kids lowered their heads, wishing they could bury themselves in the bamboo strips. Their little aunt must be thinking of their big money-making scheme again, but could such an ugly basket really sell? The system glanced at Manbaos points and said, Host, you indeed have enough points to buy a bamboo basket, but you havent reached the permission to open the mall, so I cant buy it for you. It was Manbaos first time hearing about the mall, and she inquired, Whats the mall? Its similar to your market. The host can buy all sorts of things there, including flower baskets. When can I open the mall? Manbao thought, if she could open this mall, wouldnt she be able to go to the market whenever she wanted? Once the hosts accumulated points reach one thousand, and you have no past debts, you can open it. Manbao slumped her shoulders, mimicking her second brothers haggling, Thats a lot, cant it be cheaper? Keke mercilessly refused her, No! Chapter 31 - 31 20 The End ?31: Chapter 20 The End 31: Chapter 20 The End Well, if its impossible, then so be it, Manbao decided to do it herself. Hence, she demanded Keke to keep the picture up and clumsily arranged her flower basket just like in the image. When Erya saw her little aunt ruining the flowers, she couldnt concentrate on learning how to weave bamboo anymore and hurriedly ran over, Little Aunt, what are you doing? Im arranging a flower basket. Erya said, Youre crushing the flowers. Manbao blinked and decisively threw away the flowers, scooted back a bit, and let Erya take over, Ill teach you. Everyone laughed at thatshe could barely arrange flowers herself, yet she was going to teach Erya? But indeed, Manbao did teach Erya. Her hands might not have been skillful, but she had plenty of ideas and guided Erya on how to wrap the flowers around the small bamboo basket. Erya initially didnt want to do as she was told, but her little aunt was persistentif you didnt follow her instructions, shed keep nagging until you gave in. Without other choices and considering these were just wild flowers abundant on the mountain, Erya thought she could pick more if necessary, or perhaps gather some along the way tomorrow. With this in mind, Erya followed her instructions and, as she was wrapping, noticed the small bamboo basket starting to look different. After finishing the arrangement and placing a few more flowers inside, Erya stared at the rather ugly basket she turned out to be quite stunned. Oh my god, Erya exclaimed, I cant believe Im this amazing! Manbao clapped her little hands joyfully and eagerly took credit, Its mainly because of me, I taught you. Of course, Erya, youre amazing too. You wrapped it exactly as I told you to. Zhou saw the flower basket as well, and nodded slightly, It looks alright, but this thingits neither food nor drink. Its just good to look at. Who would buy it? Ms. Qian also liked it and said, If this one isnt good, we wont take it to market. Lets leave it at home for your little aunt to play with. Erya crisply responded and began to arrange another basket. If the first try was awkward, the second became much easier. Moreover, Manbao had other designs, so by adjusting the wrapping position and method, and changing the color of the flowers, she created a different style of flower basket, which also looked quite nice. Manbao thought shed have to take Erya along to the county town tomorrow, because if the flower baskets were damaged, theyd need fixing, and Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother didnt know how to wrap flowers. Thats what she was thinking, so thats what she told her father. Zhou considered that since the daughter was going out anyway, allowing one more granddaughter to go wouldnt hurt. However, thinking that Daya was even older than Erya and it wouldnt be fair for Erya to go while Daya stayed, he decided with a wave, Take both Daya and Erya with you. Daya and Erya couldnt help cheering, while Datou and Second Son looked on with envy and pestered Zhou, Grandpa, Grandpa, what about us? You two stay at home to help your Fourth Uncle reclaim land. Go cut grass, pick stones. So many people going to town cant avoid eating and drinking, and your dad has to take care of you, no time for that. Datou immediately said, We wont eat cakes, just drinking water is fine, and we dont need dad to take us. Theres Fifth Uncle and Sixth Uncle. Zhou firmly refused, No way, its a long journey back and forth. If you get hungry and end up needing medicine, who will pay for it? Both glanced at their little aunt. Zhou glared at Manbao too. Manbao was particularly aware of the situation. She figured pushing her luck further might result in her losing the privilege to go out, so she quietly comforted Datou and Second Son, When Im back, Ill give you candy. If I make some money this time, next time Ill definitely take you. Datou and Second Son could only lower their heads in disappointment, Alright, little aunt, youve got to keep your word. Dont worry, when have I ever gone back on my word? When the family members returned from the fields for dinner, Zhou and Ms. Qian had already assembled around twenty-five bamboo baskets for them. Manbao, thrilled with delight, set to wrap all the baskets with flowers. Thus, Daya stopped learning bamboo weaving and came over to help Erya. Seeing Dalang and Erlang, Manbao didnt hesitate to enlist their aid as well, getting them to continue helping with weaving small bamboo baskets. Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang thought they were just wasting time and bamboo, but because Manbao insisted, and their parents were also pampering their youngest sister, they had no choice but to help. Soon, the discarded bamboo strips left by Zhou Er had been used up, and Manbao then eyed the intact ones. Zhou sternly said, Those are your Second Brothers bamboo strips that havent been used yet. You cant waste them. Besides, youve already made fifty; that should be enough. Actually, if she managed to sell even one, Zhou would consider it a miracle. Manbao had to give up on the idea of further tormenting her Second Brothers bamboo strips. She joined Erya and Daya in wrapping pretty flowersof course, she was in charge of giving orders, while Daya and Erya did the actual work. The flowers and grasses theyd picked at noon were quickly used up, but there were still about twenty baskets that hadnt been adorned. Zhou waved his hand dismissively, Alright then, go pick more after dinner, sunset is still a long way off. He added a warning, Make sure youre back before sunset; dont get caught in the dew. Everyone cheerfully agreed, quickly finished dinner, and headed for the mountain. Naturally, Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang were to tag along. Zhou, seeing the listless appearance of Silang, chastised, You go too. Your sister is going up the mountain; shouldnt you, as her brother, go take care of her? Zhou Silang, who had been exhausted from three straight days of heaviest labor like clearing new land, just didnt feel like moving once seated. Now scolded by his dad, he slowly heaved himself off the stool and shuffled outside. Zhou, irritated by his attitude, turned to Dalang and the others, You all need to keep a tight leash on him, I forbid him from going to town for the next two years, if I find out hes been gambling again, Ill chop off the hand I gave him. Dalang, Erlang, and Sanlang all agreed. Alright, its been days since youve been angry, better to think about how to save some money to pay off the debts, Ms. Qian said, Eldest, while youre in town tomorrow, see if theres any work. If so, theres no need for you to come back. Just take a job there; Fifth and Sixth can bring the kids back home. Dalang said, Im just worried it wont be easy to find work in town. Even if its hard, you must look. The family cant just live off the supplies without working, Ms. Qian said, Who knows what next spring will bring? If its as peaceful as this year, even if we cant save money, at least we wont be short on food or clothing. But if theres drought or flooding, then itll be tough. Zhou, tapping his smoking pipe, reassured her, Dont worry, Ive already asked Third Uncle, and he said, even if its not as good as this year, it wont be much worse. Ms. Qian felt relieved upon hearing this. Third Uncle was the most skilled farmer in the village, an old man who had been working the land for years, able to predict the weather for the upcoming half year. Since he said so, the weather for the next year shouldnt be too bad. Ms. Qian, content, had picked an abundance of various wildflowers and herbs from the mountain, and Manbao also felt satisfied, believing tomorrow would be a beautiful day. The system just watched silently, not uttering a word. However, the next day when Manbao, still a child, got out of bed and went to look at the flower baskets shed arranged, she found under the dim firelight that the flowers in the baskets below had all bent or wilted. Chapter 32 - 32 21 Discovery ?32: Chapter 21 Discovery 32: Chapter 21 Discovery Manbao was stunned. She took out the flower basket below to check and found that the flowers, which were fresh and bright just yesterday, were now wilted and drooping, some even directly broken. Daya and Erya also ran out to see, their faces showing shock and sadness. Zhou Wulang completely failed to grasp their heartache. He hadnt been to the county town for many, many years. He was immersed in this excitement, merely glanced at those flower baskets, and without a care, put them all into the large basket, saying, Never mind, we can pick more flowers along the way if we see some nice ones. Pointing to the flowers they had picked last night, which went unbound because it was too late and Ms. Qian was reluctant to light the oil lamp, he said, Take these too, they should be enough. We can bind them when we get to the county town. There was no other choice, Manbao was somewhat downcast all the way to the cart, after all, the thing she had planned for so long and was so confident in had turned out like this. This time, the family still took two bags of grain, planning to sell them and then use some of the money to prepare paper for Manbao, with the rest reserved for Ms. Qians medical expenses. It was also money for emergencies so that they would not be without in case of urgent need at home. With quite a few baskets and bamboo cages tied to the cart, all it took was for Zhou Liulang to carry some on his back, and they were ready to go. Zhou Dalang lifted Manbao onto the cart, settled her into a bamboo cage to sit comfortably. Ms. Qian stuffed one of Zhou Dalangs winter garments in after her, wrapping her entire body so she wouldnt catch cold. Then she covered it with a bamboo lid, and Manbao could sleep inside. Going on a long journey for the first time, of course, Manbao couldnt sleep. She was especially energetic, poking her little head out of the bamboo cage, her eyes sparkling. But since it was still dark, she could only see a limited amount through the torch held up by Fifth Brother. After looking around with her eyes open for a while, she felt sleepy, couldnt help but yawn, and her eyes slowly closed. Zhou Erlang noticed that Manbao had fallen asleep, so he covered her with the bamboo lid she had pushed open. The lid had holes, so there was no need to worry about her suffocating. Zhou Erlang glanced at Daya and Erya walking beside them, and he forcefully shifted the basket tied over the grain down a little, then set up a bamboo cage and seated Erya inside it, while Daya was placed on top of the grain so that she could hold onto the basket next to her, You all sit, and well continue once its light out. Zhou Erlang and Zhou Dalang took turns pushing the cart, the other assisting. Walking on flat ground was not too tiring, but the journey required going up and down hills, and the road was uneven, so everyone walked with bumps and stumbles. Although it was an early autumn morning, they were still sweating profusely. By the time the sun was slowly rising and the sky was becoming bright, they had already covered half the distance. Apart from Manbao who was still asleep, Daya and Erya were awake and expressed their desire to get down and walk a bit because they realized their legs were numb. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang looked enviously at their two nieces, wiped the sweat from their faces, and thought them fortunate for the numbness in their legs. Zhou Dalang then said, Lets rest for a bit. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang immediately sat down on the grass beside them, setting down the large baskets they were carrying on their backs. Manbao woke up too, rubbed her eyes, and poked her head out of the bamboo cage, realizing she was in an unfamiliar place, she became excited. She stood up in the bamboo cage, eager to get down from the cart. Zhou Erlang lifted her down, telling her to go play with Daya and Erya, You can pick flowers, but dont go far, just pick where we can see, understand? All three little girls nodded vigorously, promising to listen. Fearless Manbao walked to the edge of the mountain road, on tiptoes, looked down, and thought she saw a wisp of smoke in the distance. She pointed excitedly and called out, Our home! Zhou Dalang didnt even glance at it, grabbed some grass from the side, and chewed on it, Nonsense, how can you see our village from here? Manbao vaguely saw a road below, much wider than the current one, and curiously asked, Big Brother, why dont we take the road down there? This is a shortcut; that road below is for vehicles. If we took that one, we would need an extra hour, which isnt worth it. Zhou Dalang pointed proudly at the path down the mountain and explained, You see this mountain path? It used to be full of rocks, making it hard for people to walk, let alone carts. Later on, Old Master Bai and the Land Officer led us to clear the stones from this path and filled in some soil, only then could carts travel on it. Zhou Dalang lamented, Its just too narrow for horse-drawn carriages to pass; otherwise, this road would be much busier. Manbao loved to hear such stories and sat beside Zhou Dalang to listen until she couldnt hold back and said, Host, there are many wildflowers around here, arent you going to pick any? If you miss this opportunity, you might not find any further down. Concerned about her money-making plan, Manbao reluctantly stopped listening to the story. However, before leaving, she kept pulling at Zhou Dalangs hand, making him promise, Big Brother, you have to keep telling me stories when we get home. I love them. Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang saw her acting this way, interpreting it as Manbao wanting both to hear stories and to play and pick flowers with Daya and Erya. Zhou Dalang indulgently stroked her little head, happily saying, Go on, when you get back, Big Brother will tell you more. Manbao happily chased after Daya and Erya. This part of the road was relatively smooth, and although it was still a mountain path, as far as the eye could see, both sides were within the line of sight of Zhou Dalang and the others. The three children would be safe as long as they didnt venture too far. Daya and Erya found quite a few flowers, some of which Manbao had never seen, and she was especially thrilled to squat down and dig. Daya and Erya were shocked, saying, Little sister, why are you digging up the roots? Manbao lifted her mud-streaked face, her eyes shining brightly, Ive never seen these flowers before; I want to dig up one plant, a small one will do. The system did not stop her, as it had scanned and then checked in its system, finding that two types of flowers not only had no records, but no images either, meaning that these two flowers either had mutated or were extinct. Either way, they held great research value for the future. If they could be collected, the points earned would be substantial. The system, for once, generated pleased codes, feeling that not reminding Manbao to bind the flowers yesterdayknowing they would wilt and break easilywas the right decision. If the flowers hadnt broken, she definitely wouldnt have been willing to stop listening to the story today to dig up flowers. Unaware of this, Manbao, though reluctant to stop digging up the plants to give to Keke, knew that collecting enough wildflowers and fine herbs was also important. So she insisted on not needing the help of Daya and Erya, urging them to go pick flowers instead. Manbao herself took a stick and, squatting, began digging into the earth with huffs and puffs. After watching silently for a while, the system couldnt help but remind her, Host, I see that your brother and the others are almost ready to continue. You might as well just break off the plant stems and give them to me. If you dig like this, you might not even extract three plants in a day. Curiously, Manbao asked, Will it work if I break them off? Generally speaking, most plants can maintain vitality through branch cuttings, so dont worry, it should be fine. Break them off from the base, take a few more stems for me. First break off that red one on your left, then go ahead and pull at that purple vine, instructed the system. These two flowers were most important; others were already documented, so even if collected, they would only earn encouragement points. Chapter 33 - 33 22 Seeing the City ?33: Chapter 22: Seeing the City 33: Chapter 22: Seeing the City This is pretty easy, Manbao might not have strong hands, but her feet are strong. Worried about crushing the flowers, she first picked several for Keke, then pressed down the flower branches to the ground, stepped directly on them, and after stepping down hard a few times it snapped. After hopping around a few times, Manbao indeed snapped the branches and, without caring if they were smeared with mud, picked them up and handed them to Keke. System: ... The system silently recorded the branches and flowers respectively, thinking, well, the host is still young; one cannot demand too much. Turning around, Manbao went to pull at the purple vines. These purple flowers were so pretty that, without realizing it, she pulled too many. She gave a bunch to Keke, and held onto another bunch herself. Daya and Erya had picked a variety of pretty flowers and grasses nearby and already put some back into their baskets and bamboo containers. Running back to find their little aunt, they saw her pulling at the purple vines. Daya said, Little aunt, we already pulled a lot of those, weve got enough. Manbao said, I want to wear some on my head. It would look so pretty. Hearing this, Daya and Erya were tempted and joined in pulling at them. Zhou Dalang stood up to stretch his limbs. Ready to leave, he saw the three little girls huddled together pulling at the flower vines and couldnt help shaking his head. Children are children; they can play half a day with just a wildflower. Then, seeing Five and Sixth hanging their heads, drowsy and sleepy, Zhou Dalang couldnt help but lightly tap their bottoms with the tip of his foot, Arent you going to look after the youngest sister? Neither wanted to move, Daya and Erya are there. Theyre young themselves; what if they run into a beehive? Hurry up and go! Having no choice, Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang could only buckle their belts and go. It had been a whole night, and their evening meal had long been digested. At this moment, they were very hungry, and they really didnt understand why their sister had so much energy. While Zhou Wulang helped them pull at the flower vines, he also had to listen to the three little girls chirping, scolding him not to damage the flowers or drop any, making his face even more bitter. Manbao searched in her clothes pocket and found a small handkerchief she had placed there last night. Opening it, there were eight pieces of candy inside. She stuffed a piece of candy into the mouths of Wulang and Liulang, then gave one each to Daya and Erya and popped one into her own mouth. The remaining two pieces she gave to Zhou Dalang and Zhou Er. Zhou Dalang and Zhou Er were hungry too, but they smiled and pushed the handkerchief back, Keep it for yourself, Manbao. I have more! Big Brother, Second Brother, eat up. With Manbao almost climbing onto them, Zhou Dalang had no choice but to eat it, but he couldnt help but whisper a warning, Dont always take Mr. Zhuangs candy in the future. You are a disciple; you should show filial piety to Mr. Zhuang, understand? Manbao nodded continuously, not mentioning that the candy was given by Keke, not from Mr. Zhuang. Having eaten the candies, Wulang and Liulang were a bit more dedicated and took the initiative to pull a lot of vines. In the process, they discovered some blue vines which also looked pretty. Manbao was thrilled and gave a piece to Keke, keeping most of it for herself. Keke, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, Host, turn your head and look at that tree on the left, see if its covered in a lot of fruit? Manbao turned her head and saw a tree full of small, black-purple berries. Instantly hankering for them, she yelled out, Berries! Zhou Wulang turned his head to look and said, Those dont taste good; theyre not edible. Keke then said, Host, move a little closer, let me scan it. Manbao ran up and stood right under the tree, looking up with great care. She still couldnt help drooling, They look so delicious. After the system had scanned them, there was no record in the encyclopedia, but it found some pictorial records that had been left a long time ago, and this thing had a points reward offered for it. The system said, Host, this is Ligustrum fruit. If you record it, you can almost open the shopping mall with the points... Before Keke could finish speaking, Manbao was already scooped up by Zhou Er, You cant eat this fruit, Manbao. In the future, you mustnt eat random things outside, got it? Second Brother... Zhou Er didnt wait for her to respond before stuffing her into the bamboo container and calling for everyone to start moving, Its getting late. We still need to find a place to set up stall in the county town. Lets get going. Zhou Wulang and the others also placed the pulled vines into the bamboo containers, baskets, or backpacks and set off carrying their loads. Seeing this, Manbao closed her mouth. She was always a sensible child. She felt that her brothers were already tired from carrying things and pushing carts. She couldnt let her brothers put down their loads and go back for a string of berries that looked delicious but were not edible, could she? The system didnt insist either. Although it was very intelligent, it was not human after all. It didnt have many emotions, it was just feeling regrets on behalf of the host and itself. Regret that it just missed out on some points. Children wouldnt dwell on such things; Manbao quickly put the berry-laden tree out of her mind and got excited about the surrounding scenery, happy for half a day just to see a little bird. Zhou Dalang and Zhou Er saw her excitement, her little cheeks flushed red, and thought it wasnt a bad idea to bring her out more often. Otherwise, always staying at home, though well-behaved, it was always a worry. Now she seemed much better. After what felt like a long walk, they finally saw the city gate. Everyone showed smiles. Manbao, seeing such a tall wall and such a big gate for the first time, was momentarily wide-eyed in awe. Manbao pointed at the three large characters over the city gate and said, Luojiang County! Zhou Dalang looked at her, surprised, Manbao, you recognize these three characters? Manbao looked up proudly, I recognize many characters. Though she couldnt write them. Zhou Dalang happily patted her head, queuing up and saying, Once we sell the grain, Big Brother will buy you paper. People queuing nearby turned their heads to look at them and smiled, asking, What a handsome young master you have there, knowing how to read at such a young age, eh? Zhou Dalang quickly replied, This is my little sister, not a young master. Those who heard them were quite astonished, and couldnt help but take another glance at Zhou Dalang and Zhou Er, praising, It seems youre from a family of scholars and tillers. May I ask which family you belong to? Zhou Dalang felt awkward. My family doesnt have scholars; you misunderstood, misunderstood. Both he and Zhou Er were a bit red-faced and hurriedly moved the cart forward a bit to avoid further conversation. Manbao, with sparkling eyes, said, Big Brother, Im learning to read, and later, Datou and Daya will also learn to read with me. Zhou Dalang just laughed and said, What people mean by learning is not the kind of reading youre doing; you have to attend school for that. Zhou Dalang didnt bother explaining any further. Reaching the city gate, he took out a coin to give to the guard. The guard looked at the pushcart they had and said, Two coins. Zhou Dalang was taken aback, How did it become two coins? The more things you bring, the more you pay. Two coins, hurry up and pay up, or get out of the way if you dont want to come in. Zhou Dalang and Zhou Er hesitated; they only had one coin between them. Manbao peeked out from the bamboo container, watching eagerly. The guards face softened a bit when he met Manbaos gaze, and he added unexpectedly, The county magistrates order is that from the beginning of the year, anyone coming in or out with a basket, a backpack, or a carrier will be charged one coin. A pushcart is two coins. Im only charging you for one cart; Ive not even charged for those two backpacks. Chapter 34 - 34 23 Agricultural Trade Market ?34: Chapter 23 Agricultural Trade Market 34: Chapter 23 Agricultural Trade Market Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang felt the carrying baskets on their backs were especially heavy. Zhou Erlang was more clever and immediately took a small bamboo basket out of Wulangs carrying basket, gritted his teeth, filled it with five eggs, and said, Young man, its been a long time since we last visited the county city, and we honestly didnt know the rules for entering the city had changed. We farmers dont have any cash; we only came to the city to make some because our elderly at home need medicine. We hope you can be accommodating. The guard had never seen such a small bamboo basket before and looked at it curiously. When he saw the eggs inside, he glanced around, took the basket, and said, Alright, Ill cover your entry fee. After saying this, he took a coin from his pocket, threw it into the plate, and gestured for them to enter. Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang thanked him profusely, bent over pushing the cart hurriedly into the city, while Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang quickly followed with their baskets, dragging Daya and Erya with them. Sitting in the basket, Manbao watched her family almost bend their backs to the ground and suddenly felt uncomfortable. Keke sensed Manbaos emotions and consoled her, This guard isnt too bad, dont be sad. Manbao then asked, Keke, do you have guards like this in the future? Ones who are even worse? The system said, Host, in the future, technological advancements allow people to enter and leave the city from both the ground and sky, which is very convenient. Moreover, in the future, the population itself is an important resource, so there are no fees to enter the city. If humans can move into the city, theyll even receive various rewards. Manbao asked curiously, What kind of rewards? Housing, vehicles, settlement fees, job transfer allowances, and various preferential policies. Manbao couldnt understand all of this yet, but she felt that not having to pay an entry fee was good. If her family were in the future, then Big Brother and Second Brother wouldnt have to bow to the guards. Then Manbao pouted, If hes so different from people in your place, why do you still say hes not bad? He really isnt bad; hes just a guard and cant make decisions. The system had some insights; although it was a biology collection system, to better serve its host and improve their collection efficiency, its chip was loaded with plenty of knowledge and could even directly connect to the Encyclopedia. Naturally, the knowledge in the Encyclopedia was at its disposal to peruse. As for ardent cultures and history, there has been a continuous effort in recent years to restore it. The system could, of course, see a lot in this area. It wasnt stingy with this information, since it had free time anyway, it might as well chat with its host. So while Zhou Dalang pushed the cart to look for a spot in the market, Manbao listened to many stories about corrupt officials and tyrants. She never connected these stories to their encounter just now, simply listening with interest and feeling indignant for the characters in the stories. After her indignation subsided, she had already forgotten about what occurred earlier. Because she was so engrossed in listening to the stories, Manbao had forgotten to check out the bustling stalls on the street until the cart came to a stop and Zhou Dalang lifted her down, with Keke ceasing its storytelling C only then did she snap back to reality. Curiously looking around, Manbao noticed that nearby were people selling vegetables, fruits, and various baskets and carrying baskets like theirs, and she thought that this was the farmers market Keke mentioned. The four Zhou brothers busily unloaded the baskets, bamboo containers, and eggs, arranging them neatly at the spot they occupied. Since they arrived late, they could only set up their stall at the most corner spot. Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang, instructing Silang and Wulang to watch over the three children, said, Sit quietly, Second Brother and I are going to sell the grain and will be back soon. And indeed, they were back soon. While Manbao was curiously examining the items on the nearby stalls and squatting down to look whenever she saw something interesting, Dalang and Zhou Er returned, pushing the now-empty cart. Manbao ran up to them, asking, Big Brother, did you sell everything? Zhou Dalang patted her head and smiled, Yes, Im going to buy some medicine for mother and get you some paper for calligraphy practice. You stay with Second Brother and dont wander off, understand? Manbao nodded then added, Big Brother, dont buy paper for me. Keep the money to pay back the village chiefs cousin. Sanzhus wife needs money. Zhou Dalang frowned, What happened, did Sanzhus wife come asking for money? Seeing that Manbao couldnt explain it clearly, Erya quickly told their uncle about the event from the previous morning, Little Aunt said we would return it after earning money today. Manbao nodded, We must keep our word; thats called being trustworthy. Zhou Dalang frowned but remained silent. Zhou Erlang then said, Big Brother, lets listen to Manbao. Shes still young, and its okay if she doesnt practice calligraphy on paper for now. Later, Ill find a large slate for her in the mountains, and she can practice with chopsticks dipped in water. Lets buy paper when our family is better off next year. Zhou Dalang stroked Manbaos head and sighed, Its just a pity for Manbao. Manbao was puzzled, I dont feel pitied. Zhou Dalang smiled and left to buy the medicine. Zhou Erlang, noticing the younger kids eagerly gazing outside, chuckled and said, Go play. I can keep an eye on things here. Wulang, make sure you watch the three little ones closely. There are many bad people out there, and we dont want them to get snatched away. Zhou Wulang agreed, took out their little baskets, and Daya and Erya immediately began to twine flowers around them. This time they were smarter, making eight flower baskets at once, all ready to be held in their hands, reducing the worry of squashing the blooms. Cheerfully carrying the beautiful flower baskets, they set off together to find their customers. With one carrying the small bamboo baskets and another carrying a basket of flowers on their back, they set off happily. Zhou Erlang crouched behind the stall, chuckling and shaking his head; he was waiting for them to come back as before C full on departure, full on return. These little bamboo baskets were probably only for those who had money to burn. Wulang, Liulang, Daya, and Erya, all with thin skins, held their flower baskets timidly, silently watching the passersby, not daring to say a word. Manbao, however, carried her basket curiously examining the goods on the stalls, running up to look at anything attractive and enthusiastically asking questions. Seeing that they hadnt sold a single basket after covering almost half the street, Erya couldnt help but approach and said quietly, Little Aunt, remember were here to sell flower baskets. Only then did Manbao remember her task, smiling broad, Thank goodness you reminded me. I had completely forgotten, that chicken just now was so pretty. The flattered stall owner was pleased and said, That chicken has been raised for over a year, the best kind of rooster for ones health. Little girl, would you like to buy one to try? Manbao asked, How much is it? The stall owner replied, Not expensive at all, twelve coins per pound; this rooster weighs five and a half pounds, so thats sixty-six coins. Wulang and the others were terrified, hoping she wouldnt agree to buy it, but while Manbao had been happily listening, as soon as the owner quoted the price, she drooped her shoulders and said, Thats so expensive, I dont have that much money. Chapter 35 - 35 24 Selling Flower Baskets ?35: Chapter 24 Selling Flower Baskets 35: Chapter 24 Selling Flower Baskets Wulang and the others lifted hearts finally settled down. Thankfully, Manbao still had some self-awareness. The stall owner was taken aback, seeing the worry plastered all over Manbaos round face, he hesitated and then said, Then Ill give it to you for cheaper, sixty-five wen okay? Manbao shook her head, I dont even have that much money, but if I sell the flower baskets, I might have it. When that happens, Ill definitely come to buy your big rooster. Oh, and uncle, do you know where there are the most children around here? The stall owner glanced at the flower basket in her hand, then looked at the two kids and two teenagers behind her, belatedly realizing, she was his business competition. It took him quite a while before he pointed outside to the main street: Go out and turn right, walk a bit further, theres a place selling candied haws and sugar figurines, lots of children there. He couldnt help but say, Young lady, youre really quite something. Being praised, Manbaos cheeks flushed with happiness, feeling quite proud of herself. After saying goodbye to the stall owner selling the big rooster, Manbao led everyone to look for children. The main street was much livelier than the smaller street from before, with all kinds of goods for sale. Manbao curiously walked along, gazing around, when she noticed that the people on both sides of the road were yelling out to attract customers. This was something the other street lacked. Listening with great interest, it took Manbao a good while to make out what they were shouting. She looked down at her small flower basket, her eyes lit up, and she too started yelling, Selling flower baskets, beautiful beautiful small flower baskets for sale, with candy too! A tender childish voice mixed into the adults loud calls was too noticeable, and quite a few people on the street turned to look. Seeing people looking at her, Manbao got even more excited and shouted louder with her basket, Flower baskets for sale, especially especially pretty flower baskets, fresh and fun! This was obviously a copycat mix of the nearby two stalls pitches. But nobody could bring themselves to dislike her because Manbao was not only young but also pretty. The key was, whenever Manbao saw someone looking at her, she would beam a big smile. Even the most disgruntled person couldnt maintain their temper in the face of such a grin. Who doesnt love a beautiful child with a radiant smile? Manbao, holding her small bamboo basket, went around looking for customers. Seeing her enthusiasm, quite a few people asked about the price. Manbao said, Five wen each, plus a piece of candy. Manbao pulled out a piece of candy from her pocket and placed it inside. The candy was wrapped, and the previous evening, Manbao had taken out all the oiled paper she had collected and had Junior Ms.Qian cut it into small pieces, just like the candy wrappers she had opened. Then she, along with Daya, wrapped the sweets in the paper. They rolled it up just like the candy wrappers, and now it was stored at the very bottom of Wulangs basket, covered with a piece of cloth. Manbao had less than twenty pieces in her pocket. The person who had asked about the price was only inquiring casually and hadnt intended to buy, but seeing Manbao put a piece of candy in, they hesitated and asked, Is the candy tasty? Manbao nodded vigorously, Especially tasty. Zhou Wulang then brought out the prepared crushed candy bits. This was the county town; he couldnt be too casual, so the crumbs were wrapped in a handkerchief. The customer tried a small piece, their eyes brightened, and they asked, Ill buy the flower basket. By the way, are you selling the candy separately? Manbaos eyes flickered, asking, Do you want to buy just the candy? The person nodded, The candys good, Ill buy some to take home for the kids to try. Manbao took out the candy from her pocket, saying, The candy is one wen for two pieces. Wulang and Daya both turned to look at Manbao, opening their mouths as if they wanted to speak, but Liulang and Erya held them back and stood behind Manbao, puffing up their chests with feigned confidence, pretending to be full of bluster. The customer hesitated for a moment then said, Okay, give me ten pieces of candy, forget the flower basket. Manbao was displeased, That wont do; the candy only comes with the flower baskets. If you wont buy the flower basket, I wont sell you the candy. Even Liulang and Erya couldnt help but poke her shoulder at this point. Manbao twisted her body, extremely insistent. She felt that flower baskets were better than candy, but deep down she also knew that if the flower baskets were sold without candy, they probably wouldnt sell at all. So, for the sake of the flower baskets, she couldnt sell the candy separately. The person was startled for a moment before asking, So I have to buy ten flower baskets? You have to buy at least one before I can sell you candy separately, she replied. After thinking about it, the person nodded and said, Alright, then give me one flower basket and sell me ten pieces of candy separately. Manbao handed him the flower basket she was holding and counted out ten pieces of candy to put in it, feeling happy. The person counted out ten coins to give to Manbao, smiling, Your familys candy is really delicious, but this flower basket isnt of much use. No sooner had he spoken than a little girl passing by gazed longingly at the flower basket in their hands, tugging at her mothers hand, Mom, I want this. Her mother glanced at it and crouched down to coax her, Let mom buy you some candy to eat later, okay? You cant eat this flower basket. I want it, the flower basket is so pretty, the girl insisted. Erya immediately ran up to them and said, Our flower baskets also have candy in them, really tasty candy. The little girls eyes shone even brighter, looking expectantly at her mother. Her mother hesitated briefly, then asked, How much is it? Five coins! Erya answered. It wasnt too pricey; after a moments hesitation, she agreed to buy one, then let the little girl choose a favorite. The little girl picked a flower basket from Liulangs hand. Manbao added a piece of candy to it and received five coins in exchange, leaving the other party delighted as they walked away. Having earned fifteen coins, everyone was extremely happy. Once theres a start to the business, the rest wont be that hard. Erya quickly opened up, holding hands with Manbao and walking in front, calling out their wares. Daya, too, was affected and started to shout. The three children were like having a competition, walking along and calling out, Flower baskets for sale... This attracted nearby children, some of whom came to buy flower baskets and some who just followed behind, joining in the shouting. Before they even reached the candy sellers, a group of children had already followed behind Manbao and the others. People love a lively scene, and children are no exception. Many were drawn over, and their flower baskets sold out quickly. Zhou Wulang found a place to stop, and Daya and Erya started to twine flowers on the spot, going through all the styles they had twined the day before. Manbao went to Kekes to find several beautiful styles and directed them on how to twine them. With every flower being different, naturally, every flower basket was unique. More and more children gathered around, with many running back to ask their parents for money. The people of the county were differentalthough five coins were quite a bit, for families with a decent wealth, it was only a small amount of money. If the children were persistent enough, the parents who loved them couldnt help but give in and pull out money to buy one. Zhou Wulang had already taken the cloth bag hidden at the bottom of the basket and was responsible for placing a piece of candy in each flower basket. Manbao was in charge of promoting to the little customers up front, explaining how lovely their flower baskets and how delicious their candies were. Quite a few children were tempted, taking out money to buy. Manbao received the cash and handed it to Liulang, then presented several flower baskets for the customer to pick one. Daya and Eryas pace of twining flowers began to fall behind, and as the flowers in the basket were about to run out, Zhou Wu instructed Liulang to quickly go back and bring over the rest of the Small bamboo baskets and flowers. Liulang handed over the money-collecting task to Zhou Wu and ran off at full speed. Chapter 36 - 36 25 Return Customers ?36: Chapter 25: Return Customers 36: Chapter 25: Return Customers A carriage stopped nearby, and the curtain was drawn back. A little girl peered out, watching for a while, before a servant approached and asked, How much for the flower basket? Manbao looked up and said cheerfully, Five coins each, and theres candy inside too. The price was reasonable, and the servant didnt haggle, pointing to one of the baskets behind, dominated by purple flowers, Ill take that one. Manbao eagerly fetched the basket for her, and after taking the money, she waved her paw, Come back next time! The servant thought the child was rather cute, and the serious expression on her face relaxed a bit as she took the basket to her young mistress. The little girl, holding the basket, admired its beauty and was pleased for a moment. Then she saw something inside and, upon examination, the servant said, Miss, the child said this is candy, but its still better not to eat things from the outside... Before the servant could finish her sentence, the little girl had already unwrapped the oil paper and popped the candy into her mouth. The moment the candy touched her tongue, she widened her eyes ever so slightlythe sweetness was even more intense than honey, though... After a moment, the girl felt the lack of the rich fragrance of honey, but still found it delicious. With the candy in her mouth, she looked through the basket and asked, Why is there no more candy? The servant laughed, The child said theres only one piece in each basket. The girls eyes twinkled, These flower baskets are quite lovely. Lets buy one for each of my brothers and sisters. Go and buy all the remaining baskets from their home. The servant hesitated, Even if were gifting them to the young masters, do we really need that many? Why not? There are also my cousins and their sisters, and we have to give some to mother. Im afraid there might not be enough. Hurry and buy them. After thinking it over and worrying that the servant might not do it wholeheartedly, she had the coachman turn around and go back. Liulang was already rushing over with his basket on his back, his face covered in sweat from the haste. He squeezed through the crowd of children and set down his basket, I told Second Brother we sold a basket, and he didnt believe it. In a low voice, Wulang spoke, I still can hardly believe it; weve actually sold over half already. Theyd brought a total of fifty-one bamboo baskets, and for each one sold, Wulang made a mental tally; twenty-seven had been sold so far, leaving twenty-four. You can imagine the surprise and delight, right? Wulang, for one, was thrilled beyond belief. Liulang then glanced at the onlookers and asked in a low voice, Do you think we can sell the rest? The children were all squatting on the side, watching Daya and Erya wrap the baskets, with no one buying anymore. Wulang thought for a moment, Dont worry. If no one buys here, well move to another spot. There are so many children in the county; surely some will buy. Manbao was even more confident, saying earnestly, Someone will definitely buy them. Wulang and Liulang helped Daya and Erya sort out the flowers and grass. After watching for a while, they too had a rough idea of how much material was needed for each basket, speeding up the process for Daya and Erya. Manbao had already made friends with the onlooking children. Amidst their chatty banter, she wanted to ask if there were any unusual plants nearby, intending to pluck some for Keke. There are so, so many beautiful flowers on our mountain. Do you have any here? A child said, Were not allowed to go out; bad people might take us, so we dont know. Some had been to the mountains, but he couldnt remember seeing any flowers. However, he recalled seeing fruit. Fruit, Manbao loved fruit, and she quickly asked, Is it delicious? It is delicious, sweet. My dad picked it for me. Manbao said, I want to taste it, too. Tell me what it looks like, and next time Ill look for it myself. You wont find it, only my dad can find it. Manbao wasnt pleased, Im very capable, too. If your dad can find it, I definitely can as well. Youre too short; it definitely wont work. Then I have my older brothers, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, and Sixth Brother. They are tall, and they will help me find it. The children were all shocked, blurting out, You have that many brothers? Manbao proudly said, Of course. I also have three nephews and three nieces. Looking at Manbao who clearly seemed younger than them, they couldnt help feeling envious. She already had nephews and nieces, while they were just others nephews and nieces. While she was boasting, the carriage returned. Manbao recognized it at first sight. The reason she remembered it so clearly was that when the carriage appeared, Keke had instructed her to record this horse, as in the future, horses would be an extinct species, highly ranked, with a high number of reward points offered for recording them. But Manbao had been taught by her mother when she was younger, while trying to pluck a neighbors vegetables, that only what belonged to her or was ownerless could be taken. Others belongings, unless given voluntarily, were not to be touched. This horse clearly belonged to someone else; she couldnt steal it. So Manbao could only take a photo for Keke and promised that if she ever became wealthy, she would buy one for recording. Keke, of course, had no choice but to agree. Manbao didnt think the day would be too long because she found earning money quite easy. She patted the coins in her pocket, brimming with confidence. Seeing the servant who had bought a basket from her heading her way, Manbao tilted her small round face upward and asked, Sister, do you want to buy more flower baskets? This servant had children older than Manbao. Yet, being addressed as sister by her, she didnt feel disrespected; instead, she was happy and thus smiled, Yes, our miss said well take all of your remaining baskets. How many do you have left? Manbao, puzzled, glanced back at their baskets and asked curiously, Why does your miss want so many? I want to sell to more people. The servant frowned slightly, The money wont be shorted to you. Just count how many you have left. Liulang, thinking Manbao didnt know, whispered in her ear, There are twenty-four left. Yet Manbao was insistent, Its wasteful to buy things and not use them. Can you really use so many flower baskets? The servant looked seriously at Manbao for the first time and then smiled saying, There are plenty of people at our house. Not to mention twenty-four, even twice that number wouldnt be too many. It was then that Manbao brightened up and directed her to look at the baskets they were making, There are twelve that have yet to be decorated with flowers; youll have to wait a bit. Dont worry, theyll be finished quickly. Upon hearing that the baskets were sold out, Daya and Erya became excited and began even more diligently on the remaining baskets. Manbao stood talking to the servant, What colors and styles of flower baskets do you think are prettier? Keke had said it, to do some market research; next time, they could produce more of the baskets people liked. The servant had to wait a while before getting the baskets, and since Manbao was conversing like an adult, she joined in, Our miss thinks the purple flowers are pretty, but I think the red ones are better. Did you make these baskets yourselves? The baskets were made by my dad and Second Brother, and we tied the flowers on, Manbao beamed with pride, Theyre all flowers from the mountain, very beautiful. Chapter 37 - 37 26 Peaceful Conscience ?37: Chapter 26 Peaceful Conscience 37: Chapter 26 Peaceful Conscience The little girl inside the carriage, hearing the lively conversation below, lifted the curtain to look at Manbao. Seeing that she was even younger, she beckoned and said, Come over and keep me company with some chatter. Manbao ran up immediately and glanced at the horse wagging its tail before asking, May I touch your horse? The little girl was clearly taken aback by the request, but after hesitating for a moment, she nodded, If you like, go ahead and touch it. Manbao ran to the front to pet the horse while the little girls attention shifted forward. She said, Why dont you come up and talk to me in the carriage? The coachman was about to pick up Manbao when Wulang, who had been watching the situation, quickly stepped in to block him, pulling Manbao behind him, Theres no need for her to climb aboard; we can talk just like this. Whats the need to get on? The servant frowned, Do you know who our miss is? Your sister being spoken to by her is an honor for your family. Wulang couldnt have cared less as he retorted, Who knows if youre not up to no good? We can talk like this across the carriage, or else have your miss come down. Turning around, he then coaxed Manbao, Little sister, lets go back. Well all chat with you. The servant was annoyed by these words, but the little girl inside the carriage didnt mind, seemingly impressed by Wulangs protective stance toward his sister. She lifted the curtain and sat on the carriage shaft, looking no much older than Manbao. Curiously staring at Manbao, she asked, Did you pick all these flowers on the mountain yourself? Manbao replied, They werent picked by me, but by my niece and my second niece. I just picked a few. The little girl smiled, Some of these flowers are indeed interesting, even nicer than the ones we cultivate at home. Wulang couldnt help but say, Thats nothing special. Wait til next spring when the mountain is covered in blooms, thats when you see lots of flowers. No child dislikes flowers, especially not a little girl. She couldnt resist the thought, I wonder if you could help me dig up some pretty flowers next year? Id like to try and plant one at home. Wulang was reluctant to agree. It was a long trip from the village to the county town, and now there were even fees for entering the city... Yet Manbao, who shared the same hobby as Keke, was delighted and nodded eagerly, Sure, Ill dig them up for you. Wheres your house? The servant beside her hesitated and held back his words. The little girl said, My home is right behind the County Governmental Office. Its very easy to find. Just ask for the Second Miss of the Fu Family. This was the first friend Manbao had made outside, and so she was particularly happy. My surname is Zhou. My parents all call me Manbao. Manbao, Second Miss Fu said with a smile, your name sounds lovely. My nickname is Wenyun. Manbao complimented in return, Your name is also very nice. Fu Wenyun inquired, The candy is tasty. Did you make it yourself, or did you buy it? After thinking for a moment, Manbao said, My friend helped me buy it. Fu Wenyun asked, Where can I buy some? I want to buy some too. Manbao replied, Then you can buy from me, two pieces for one wen (unit of currency). Fu Wenyun hesitated for a moment before nodding, Then, Ill buy a lot. A hundred pieces. I dont have them right now. I have to go home and get them. Can I have my brother deliver them to you tomorrow? Manbao planned to go to school the next day, and having seen the county town, she felt her horizons had broadened and didnt want to return any time soon. Fu Wenyun nodded and then asked, Should I pay a deposit? Manbao was surprised, Is a deposit necessary? Well, then give it. Not just the servant but even Fu Wenyun were momentarily choked up. The little girl paused, glanced at the servant with a troubled look on his face, and he repeatedly looked at Fu Wenyun. Finding no way out since Fu Wenyun insisted, the servant had no choice but to give Manbao ten wen, saying, Young Lady Zhou, our master is the county magistrate. Tomorrow when you come, just knock on the side door behind the County Governmental Office and ask for the Second Miss. It was no surprise the servant needed to stress their status; given their earlier reactions, even after the miss mentioned her home was behind the County Governmental Office and that her surname was Fu, they showed no sign of recognition, obviously unaware. That made sense, reallyjust a bunch of unsophisticated country folks, and young at that; itd be strange if they did understand. As expected, upon finishing her statement, she saw a hint of nervousness and panic on Zhou Wulangs face, while Manbao looked like she had an epiphany, yet she didnt show any fear, just curiously asking Fu Wenyun, Does your dad happen to be exceptionally fair-skinned? Fu Wenyun failed to follow her line of thought, but still nodded, Yes, my dad has fair skin. No wonder the entry fee increased by one wen. Hmph, Keke was right; pale-faced people are deceitful. Manbao felt the payment she had just accepted was too little, but since she had already agreed, it didnt seem right to change the price now. She decided next time Fu Wenyun bought candy from her, she would raise the price. That was an idea she had borrowed from associating with the county magistrate. Having made that decision, Manbaos spirits lifted again, and she eagerly recommended her candy to Fu Wenyun, My candy is very, very sweet. I have tried so many kinds, and none are as delicious as mine. The servant sneered after a glance at the clothes Manbao and Zhou Wulang were wearing, Youve had a lot of candy? Manbao didnt catch her sarcasm, but Zhou Wulang wasnt foolish. Although intimidated by their being county magistrates people, the sight of his sister being scorned still provoked his anger, Of course, my sister has been eating candy since she was young, at least one piece every day, never missing a day. Tell me, in all the neighboring villages, which child has had more candy than my sister? Fu Wenyun and the servant were taken aback. Fu Wenyun was the first to look at Manbaos teeth, asking, Are your teeth still good? Yes, Manbao opened her mouth to show her, saying, I take good care of them, rinsing my mouth every morning and night. My friend told me that this way I wont get cavities. Fu Wenyun felt she was different from other children, knowing quite a lot unexpectedly. Fu Wenyun said, I often eat candy, too, but my teeth have started hurting a little, so my mother doesnt let me have too much... The two children chattered about anything and everything, with Manbao even sharing about a particularly beautiful rooster she had seen that day. Zhou Wulang couldnt help but interrupt their conversation, Manbao, the flower baskets are ready. The servant also breathed a sigh of relief, quickly saying, Miss, we should be going back now. Both Manbao and Fu Wenyun looked a bit regretful at having to part ways, casting reluctant glances at each other. Feeling slightly guilty, Manbao asked, Sister Fu, did you earn the money you spent, or does it belong to your dad? Of course, its my dads, Fu Wenyun explained, Im still little, I cant make money yet. So Manbaos conscience was at ease once again. Hmm, she was earning the bad magistrates money, not Sister Fus money. Manbao happily waved goodbye, Ill help you put the flower baskets on the carriage. With twenty-four flower baskets amounting to one hundred twenty wen, while Zhou Wulang and the others were still breaking a sweat counting on their fingers, Manbao had already done the math. The servant looked at Manbao in surprise, counted out the money, and only after the carriage had gone some distance did the servant say to Fu Wenyun, Miss, that little mistress from the Zhou Family is so clever. She worked out sums that even her brother couldnt figure out in no time. Fu Wenyun nodded in agreement, She is very smart, she knows quite a lot. Chapter 38 - 38 27 Cockfighting ?38: Chapter 27: Cockfighting 38: Chapter 27: Cockfighting Zhou Wulang and the others also thought Manbao was very impressive and asked, Manbao, how did you figure that out? Zhou Liulang said embarrassingly, I have been calculating for a long time and couldnt figure it out. Daya testified for him, Sixth Uncle started calculating when we had four or five baskets left, and by the time we finished wrapping them up, he still hadnt figured it out. Manbao explained while counting on her fingers, Its very simple, there are twenty-four baskets in total, and each costs five coins, so twenty baskets are exactly one hundred coins, two baskets are ten coins, and four are twenty coins, so one hundred plus twenty coins is one hundred and twenty coins, right? The four Wulangs eyes sparkled as they counted on their fingers for a long time without understanding, Why are twenty baskets one hundred coins? Manbao said as if it was the most natural thing in the world, Because ten baskets are fifty coins. The four Wulangs were even more confused. Regardless, they had made a lot of money. Wulang put all the money into a cloth bag for candy, touched it, and his face turned red with excitement, as he had never felt so much money before. Seeing this, Liulang also wanted to feel it, so the five of them took turns touching the copper coins, finally feeling content and saying, Our family has money now. Wulang carefully placed the cloth bag in his embrace and asked Manbao, What do you want to do, tell Fifth Brother, and I will take you to play. Manbao said, I want to buy a big rooster. Wulang instinctively clutched the cloth bag, What do you want a big rooster for? To nourish mothers health, Manbao said with sparkling eyes, Father said mother is weak because she suffered too much before, so she needs to replenish her health, and big roosters are nourishing. Wulang, holding the cloth bag, was somewhat reluctant, But that big rooster costs sixty-five coins, thats too expensive. Daya and Erya also thought it was too expensive, nodding in agreement. However, Manbao was insistent, feeling that money was still easy to earn, and what could be more important than their mothers health? Unable to argue with her, Wulang could only say, Lets find another one to buy, one thats a little smaller. After all, its just for mother, and she cant eat that much in one meal. This way its cheaper, and we can buy several. Manbao thought his idea made sense, Then where else can we buy roosters? Of course, it was the same street they had come from, dedicated to selling all kinds of poultry and vegetables. However, Zhou Wulang, not getting to the county town often, didnt want to go back to that street, so he turned his eyes around and pointed ahead, Lets look ahead, we might find cheaper ones. Everyone happily agreed. Zhou Wulang took Manbaos hand, held the cloth bag tightly, and Zhou Liulang, with a niece in each hand, and baskets on their backs, happily led everyone to have fun. Manbao, seeing so many people for the first time, was extremely excited. She was also not shy, squeezing into wherever the crowd was thickest. At first, Wulang held her hand, but soon she was dragging Wulang along, and eventually, Wulang was chasing after her. Liulang also had places he wanted to visit, and after chasing a while, he became too lazy to continue chasing. After all, it was just one street; if they moved forward, they were bound to run into each other. Daya and Erya didnt feel like chasing either, so they cheerfully played in the back with Sixth Uncle. But poor Zhou Wu had a hard time, both worried someone might snatch the money from his cloth bag and that Manbao might get lost. Most importantly, he wanted to have fun too! Manbao zipped in and out of the crowd and eventually found herself in a place where a group of adults were shouting loudly. She got very curious and squeezed through the crowd to get a closer look. Zhou Wu, following behind and sweating profusely, Manbao, Manbao, dont run off... Carrying a basket on his back made it difficult for him to squeeze in, so he could only jump to see what was happening. When he saw it, his face turned pale with fear, and he shoved the basket aside and squeezed his way in, holding the cloth bag tightly. As soon as Manbao got inside, she saw two roosters standing in the center, their feathers on end, fiercely fighting each other. She paused, confused C what was so interesting about two roosters fighting? The onlooking adults, however, were very excited, shouting with clenched fists, Peck it, peck it, harder! Go for the eyes, the eyes... Ah! Manbao looked up at the thrilled faces on one side, then those frustrated on the other, completely baffled, Keke, what are they doing? Should I help and tell the roosters to stop fighting? The system said, It is advisable for the host not to interfere; this seems to be what is known as cockfighting. Manbao asked curiously, What is cockfighting? Its a form of gambling. Two roosters fight, and the owner of the rooster that loses is the loser, the system explained, sharing a historical tale about cockfighting. For instance, there was an emperor who really liked cockfighting. Someone spent a lot of money to present him with a rooster, and for this, he was scolded by a certain famous minister. Manbao watched curiously for a while when Zhou Wu finally squeezed in and grabbed hold of Manbao, covering her eyes, and said, Manbao, who told you to come here? This is gambling; we cant be like Fourth Brother. Manbao pulled his hand down from her eyes, and just then, one of the roosters in the center had been defeated, with a pecked eye that made it blind, and it was now trying to flee, flapping its wings. The victor, with its head held high in pride, crowed triumphantly. The defeated roosters owner, enraged, kicked the bird to the ground and pulled out a handful of silver to hand over to another person. Manbaos eyes widened as she looked at the man and then at the rooster, deep in thought. Seeing his little sister with such an expression, Zhou Wu got scared and tugged her to leave. But Manbao was not pleased, she said, I wouldnt be as foolish as Fourth Brother. Whats fun about watching roosters fight? Its not like watching people fight. Zhou Wu was startled, You, you want to see people fight? Curious, Manbao asked, Is there really a gambling game where you watch people fight? Zhou Wu hadnt seen it himself, but he had heard about it from Fourth Brother. However, could he dare to tell Manbao? Zhou Wu shook his head repeatedly, No! Manbao said Oh and broke free from his grip, Im going to talk to that big brother over there. Without hesitation, she approached the man who had just lost money and was now looking upset. Manbao was small, barely as tall as the mans thigh. Although the man looked upset, he wouldnt lash out at a child. Frowning, he yelled to the people around him, Whose kid is this? Take her away quickly. Zhou Wu had already caught up to Manbao and was about to drag her away when she pushed against him and called out, Big brother, do you still want to buy a rooster? A very beautiful, very beautiful rooster. The man looked down at Manbao, asking with a frown, You have a rooster at home? Manbao nodded vigorously, I saw a very, very beautiful big rooster, with feathers red with black, sparkling eyes, straight and bright red comb. Its just so beautiful, so very beautiful. Chapter 39 - 39 28 Brother Shi (Extra thank you for the reward from Book Friend Al Pacino) ?39: Chapter 28 Brother Shi (Extra chapter thank you for the reward from Book Friend Al Pacino) 39: Chapter 28 Brother Shi (Extra chapter thank you for the reward from Book Friend Al Pacino) The mans eyes flickered, You really have one? Manbao nodded, her big eyes brimming with excitement and anticipation, Big Brother, do you want it or not? The man choked for a moment but nodded, Okay, where is it? Take me to see it. No need, no need, just let my Fifth Brother bring it over, Manbao turned to look at Zhou Wulang, Fifth Brother, hurry and bring the rooster over. Zhou Wulang understood Manbaos meaning and turned to go, but then thought better of it and said, That wont work, youre so young, what if some bad person snatches you away? Come with me. The mans eyes widened in anger, Kid, ask around, do I, Eldest Master Shi, deal in the filthy business of selling children? Manbao squatted beside him and also waved her little hand at Zhou Wulang, Exactly, exactly, Brother Shi isnt like that. Eldest Master Shi choked again and couldnt help but pat her little head, Call me uncle! His hand was strong, and even though he held back a little, Manbao was still small. Squatting as she was, she was already unsteady; his pat sent her toppling head over heels, and Manbao fell flat on the ground. Eldest Master Shi was startled and quickly lifted her up. Zhou Wulangs eyes grew wide, and he pushed Eldest Master Shi out of the way, holding a bewildered Manbao and asking, Little sister, little sister, are you alright? Manbao spit out a ptui, getting rid of the dirt that accidentally got into her mouth. She glared at Eldest Master Shi and accused, Youre picking on me because Im small! Eldest Master Shi initially felt a bit guilty, having knocked the child to the ground, but seeing Manbaos angry eyes, he just found her cuter. He couldnt help but laugh, and seeing her eyes bulge even larger and her chubby cheeks puff up, he quickly stifled his laughter, took out a handful of copper coins from his pocket, and stuffed them into her hand, Here, uncle will buy you some candy. He explained to Zhou Wulang, I really didnt mean it, how was I supposed to know the child couldnt squat steadily? After this scene, his irritation and frustration from losing money seemed to dissipate a little. Manbao wiped the mud from her face and tucked the handful of coins into her pocket, hmph, she forgave him considering the money. Now Manbao didnt imitate his squatting anymore and simply sat down on the stone steps beside her, waving at Zhou Wulang, Fifth Brother, hurry up, Ill wait here. Manbao stared at the half-bald rooster and complained to Keke, Fifth Brother is really silly. What if he sold the rooster to someone else while I was away? The system said, Host, youre really quite short of money now. So there was really no need to go to such lengths just to save a little bit of money. But Manbao didnt see it that way. She said, A rooster costs sixty-five wen, if I buy one for Mother to eat every day, thats six hundred and fifty wen in ten days. I dont have enough money right now. Host, I suggest that you record more scarce plants sooner rather than later. Once you open your store, you might be able to find medicine that can cure your mother inside it, the system proposed. Manbao was surprised, You sell medicine too? I dont, but someone in the store might, the system replied. She said so, but Manbao still felt that the non-existent store looked daunting; buying the rooster was the most important because that was something tangible. Zhou Wulang didnt want to go; he wasnt a fool. How could he possibly leave his cute and tender little sister here alone? Eldest Master Shi, who had just been amused, was not pleased again, Listen, do you really have it or not? If not, dont come here to make a joke of me. Manbao just glared at her Fifth Brother, and Zhou Wulang glared back at her with big eyes. Luckily, Zhou Liulang soon arrived with Daya and Erya, which reassured Zhou Wulang. He entrusted Zhou Liulang with watching over Manbao along with Daya and Erya, and he ran off with his cloth bag. Zhou Liulang, realizing that his little sister had actually come to watch a cockfight, was quite anxious. He now squatted beside Manbao and glared with wide eyes, keeping a wary watch over Eldest Master Shi. Daya and Erya also shrank their necks and dared not speak. In their eyes, gamblers were not good people. Zhou Liulang even whispered to Manbao, thinking he was being quiet, Little sister, dont you hate it the most when Fourth Brother gambles? Why have you come here? Manbao responded with righteous indignation, Im not gambling. Eldest Master Shi, squatting aside, gave Zhou Liulang a sidelong glance and asked Manbao, So you have a gambler in the family too. You dont look like a rich family, do you? Manbao nodded, My Fourth Brother just lost money gambling not long ago, some people came to our house to collect the debt, and took all our money. Aiyo, that really is wicked. Why on earth would your Fourth Brother be so thoughtless, borrowing money to gamble? Manbao then asked him curiously, But arent you gambling too? Eldest Master Shi brimmed with confidence, Although I gamble, I have my own money. I would never borrow money to gamble. Manbao scoffed, Gambling is addictive. In the future, youd have to chop off hands and feet to cure it. Eldest Master Shi was startled by her words, was it really that vicious? Who taught you this, child? My friend told me, and I thought of it myself, Manbao said proudly, Ive already planned it out. If my Fourth Brother continues to gamble in the future, Ill chop off his hands. Eldest Master Shi didnt take her words seriously and gave her a thumbs-up, Youre tough. Manbao was still interested in the matter of gambling, although Keke felt it might corrupt her and only agreed to tell her various stories of families ruined by gambling, rather than explaining how people gambled and why they became addicted to it. And when asked, Fourth Brother would only say he had been out of his mind, only feeling that he could turn the tables in the next round, so he gambled like he was poisoned, borrowing money to place bets and losing more to borrow again. By the time he snapped out of it, all the money was gone. Manbao thought he described it too blandly; even she, who loved stories, didnt care to listen. But now she had the chance to meet someone who also gambled. Manbao asked Eldest Master Shi. To someone else, Eldest Master Shi wouldnt likely talk about these things with a child, but Manbao didnt act like a child at all. He couldnt help but tell her more about his most frequent gambling activities: cockfighting and dice. Eldest Master Shi had only intended to say a little, but caught by Manbaos sparkling eyes and her face full of excitement, he found himself talking more and more. By the time Zhou Wulang came back, head down, being pulled by Zhou Dalang, Manbao had already grasped the common tricks of the gambling hall, as well as various cheating techniques quite thoroughly. Zhou Dalang was dragging Zhou Wulang over with a stern face, but upon seeing the silk cloth on Eldest Master Shi, he restrained his anger and stepped forward to greet him. Eldest Master Shi, who was barely in his early twenties and still a green young man, looked at Zhou Dalang, who already sported a small moustache and seemed much older, and fell silent. No wonder the child insisted on calling him Big Brother; the origin was right here. Chapter 40 - 40 29 Contentment Brings Happiness ?40: Chapter 29: Contentment Brings Happiness 40: Chapter 29: Contentment Brings Happiness Eldest Master Shi cleared his throat and, with a formal gesture, was about to speak to Zhou Dalang. Suddenly his eyes fixed themselves on the big rooster cradled in Zhou Silangs arms. His eyes shone with excitement as he pounced forward, running his hands over the roosters sleek feathers, asking with a look of infatuation, Is this the big rooster you were talking about? The crowd from the Zhou family was taken aback by Eldest Master Shis behavior, so much so that even Zhou Dalang was at a loss for words for a moment. But Manbao wasnt stunned at all; she rushed over alongside Eldest Master Shi, stood next to her Fourth Brother, and also stroked the roosters feathers. Proudly and contentedly she asked, How about that, isnt our big rooster great? Good, good indeed! Zhou Dalang kept petting the rooster and asked, How much are you selling it for? Manbao paused and scratched her head. She hadnt really thought about it because she figured they liked the big rooster so much that it should fetch a good price. What mattered most was finding him a fine-looking big rooster so hed be willing to sell that bald one to her for a bit less. Manbaos gaze couldnt help but drift towards the molting rooster again. Following her gaze, Eldest Master Shi, with a childs thoughts practically written all over her face, let out a hearty laugh and asked, You want my rooster? Manbao nodded. For what? To make soup, Manbao declared, looking up at Eldest Master Shi, Rooster is very nutritious, and my mother wants to eat rooster. This rooster is only good for stewing now, but... Eldest Master Shi said in confusion, Doesnt your family raise roosters? We need to eat it every day. This big rooster is more expensive than yours, after buying it we could afford a second one. Unable to contain his amusement, Eldest Master Shi laughed, Not bad, not bad, very clever! Alright then, Ill buy this big rooster. Almost unable to wait, Eldest Master Shi took the rooster from Zhou Silangs arms; after feeling its weight, he set it down and shooed it a couple of steps. Seeing how spirited and strong it looked, he grew even more pleased. He rummaged in his bosom, pulled out a small piece of broken silver, and tossed it to Manbao. Here, Ill buy this rooster, and consider the other one a gift to you. Manbao examined the piece of silver and asked, How much does this weigh? Eldest Master Shi, feeling slightly guilty but maintaining an air of feigned confidence, proudly claimed, It must weight at least three to five mace; weigh it yourself when you get back and youll see. Manbao, not fully trusting the silver, questioned, Dont you have any copper coins? Who goes out to gamble with a whole bunch of copper coins? Isnt that heavy? Eldest Master Shi retorted. Take it or leave it, if you dont want it, I wont buy it. Before Manbao could respond, Zhou Wulang quickly indicated his willingness to take the offer. Even Zhou Dalang couldnt help but say to Manbao, It should be about three mace; thats enough. He knew that the rooster had only cost sixty-five wen, and three mace of silver, when converted to copper coins, amounted to three hundred wen. Zhou Dalang glanced at the pitiful rooster on the ground, hardly having any feathers left, and considered the free rooster a bonus. Ugly it might be, but that didnt affect the taste. Hearing her big brother confirm this, Manbao was also very happy. She clutched the silver piece and made the deal with Eldest Master Shi, even adding, Ill come to you again when I have a good rooster. It has to be good at fighting, or else it should be as good-looking and strong as this one, he said. The bystanders who had witnessed the deal whispered among themselves once they left the market and were out of Eldest Master Shis sight. Someone immediately approached them and said, You guys are so silly. That big rooster could be worth at least five taels of silver, and you sold it to Shi Dalang for just a few coins. Thats way too much of a loss; you should hurry back and ask for a better price. The three brothers, led by Zhou Dalang, were stunned, A rooster is worth that much? Its not just any rooster; its a rooster that can earn money. Do you know how much money Shi Dalang can gamble in one go? At least twenty taels to start with. If this rooster wins, he could make that much in one round! The person gestured emphatically, and everyone was taken aback. Only Manbao looked at them disdainfully and said, How foolish. But what if it loses? The heat in the Zhous blood cooled in an instant. Yes, what if it lost? Ever since Silang lost money gambling, Manbao had heard many tragic stories from Keke, tales from ancient and modern times including future civilizations, about how gambling had led to the ruin of entire families, and even their own deaths. Keke had told her that gambling was a losing game for nine out of ten people, and the one who won wasnt necessarily skilled or lucky. Didnt you hear what Eldest Master Shi just said? Cheating was rampant in the gambling dens. Outsiders might still know but wouldnt dare to speak out. Why? For fear of being beaten, being killed. So Manbao had come to her own conclusion: whoever is the strongest, wins. If her Fourth Brother could beat anyone in the world, who would dare to take his money? But that rooster is worth five taels of silver! Zhou Wulang still felt a bit unwilling to let it go. Fifth Brother, that rooster was originally worth just sixty-five wen. Now, not only have we earned more, but we also got a big rooster for free, explained Manbao with her logic. She counted on her fingers, What if the guy who sold the big rooster found out? Wouldnt he die of rage? And if Eldest Master Shi used this rooster to gamble and lost, not only would he lose the bet, but he would also have lost the money he used to buy the rooster from us, right? Zhou Wulang considered this and felt much more relaxed. Zhou Dalang also said, Contentment brings happiness. Look at you, such a big fellow and you still dont think as clearly as Manbao. Dont talk about me, Big Brother. You regretted it just now too, didnt you? Zhou Wulang was not entirely convinced but couldnt help but admire his youngest sister, Manbao, you really are smart. Mom and Dad always said you were smarter than us. I didnt believe it before, but now I see that you truly are. Manbao nodded proudly, not the least bit modest, and said with a smile, Just average, just average. Mostly its because my friend taught me well, and I learn quickly. What friend? Its Mr. Zhuang, isnt it? Zhou Wulang said. Now that youve accepted Mr. Zhuang as your teacher, you cant keep calling him friend all the time. You should call him teacher. Then he added, Actually, I dont think its our fault for being less smart; its mainly because our parents are smarter... Wulang, what nonsense are you talking about? Zhou Dalang slapped him on the head. Zhou Wulang realized he had spoken out of turn, quickly covered his mouth with a goofy smile, and looked nervously at Manbao. But Manbao reassured Zhou Dalang, Big Brother, dont be mad. Fifth Brother is just a bit slow, thats all. Youre smarter than he is, like Dad. Then Manbao proudly continued, Im like Mom though; shes a bit smarter than Dad. Fifth Brother doesnt resemble anyone, who knows if he was picked up from a main street or something. Oh, Moms so worried about him, she says every night before bed, wondering if Xiao Wu will ever be able to speak for a wife. Zhou Dalang and Zhou Liulang: ... Feeling indignant, Zhou Wulang protested, Where am I dumb? Im just honest, like Dad. Dont you get it? Manbao shook her head, I cant see how you resemble Dad. Dont believe me? Ask Dad when you get home, and see if he says youre like him. Chapter 41 - 41 30 Managing Money ?41: Chapter 30: Managing Money 41: Chapter 30: Managing Money Zhou ErLang was calling out to customers about the baskets and bamboo baskets while he pulled Manbao and Erya over and said, scowling, What are you running around for? Dont you know there are so many people in the county? What would you do if you got lost? After browsing for a bit, a customer felt that Zhou ErLangs bamboo baskets were of decent quality, and they were one coin cheaper than others, so they took out money and bought one. Once this group of customers left, Zhou ErLang was free and finally had time to ask the others, Wulang, where were you running off to just now? Zhou Wulang placed the carrying basket on the ground and proudly showed the big rooster inside to his second brother. Look, this is what we earned back. Zhou ErLang looked at the rooster, which was hunched up with most of its feathers fallen out and its body pecked red. He couldnt help but roll up his sleeves, Are you saying you spent sixty-five coins on a big rooster just to exchange it for this plucked one? Zhou Wulang dodged behind Dalang, grabbed his sleeve and said, Big brother, look, Second Brother is going to hit me again. Did I bring disaster upon myself? Zhou Wulang peered out from behind Zhou Dalang, still looking a little proud, We even made money! He opened the cloth bag he was hugging to show Zhou ErLang, almost tilting his chin skyward. See that, see that, Second Brother, can you make this much money? Zhou ErLang was dumbfounded, Where did you get all this money? You call this a lot? Zhou Wulang took the piece of broken silver from Manbaos hand to show Zhou ErLang. See, this is what we earned with that big rooster. Manbao still has copper coins in her pocket. Zhou Wulang attempted to pry the copper coins from Manbaos pocket too, but could Manbao be outdone? Not only did she snatch the broken silver back, she grabbed the cloth bag and tucked it under herself, tilting her head and saying, This money is mine. Well divide it according to our contributions when we get back. Zhou Wulang and the others didnt contribute anything at all and obediently handed over all the money to Manbao. Of course, Manbao couldnt possibly carry all that money, so Wulang still ended up as the packhorse. But Zhou Dalang and Zhou ErLang felt it was unwise, Manbao, what do you need all this money for? Zhou ErLang squatted down to coax her, How about Second Brother keeps it for you, and later Ill buy you meat and candy? Manbao considered herself already grown up, and since she had experience keeping track of her own points, she was most enthusiastic about planning for her money. How could she possibly want to hand it over to them? So, she stuffed the silver lump into her small cloth pocket and covered it, saying, No way, Ill keep my own money. Zhou Dalang and Zhou ErLang glared at Zhou Wulang. Zhou Wulang also clutched the bag tightly to his chest. If the money was in Manbaos hands, they might still get a bit, but if it fell into the hands of the big and second brothers, they wouldnt get a single coin. Zhou Dalang felt a headache coming on, What do you need the money for exactly? If it were just four or five coins, it would have been alright for Manbao to hold onto them but there were several hundred coins this time. Manbao started to count on her fingers for him, Im going to buy medicine for mom, chickens, meat, clothes, oil paper, books, paper... When Manbao realized that her two palms werent enough to count them all, she drew a circle and said, I want to buy lots and lots of things. Zhou Dalang was startled and hesitated before saying, Then how about you give your money to Big Brother to hold for you, and you can ask Big Brother when you want to buy something later, okay? Zhou Dalang said, What if you lose the money? I wont lose it, Manbao confidently replied. Right now Wulang is holding it, but when we get back home Ill hide it in the room. I know where mom hides her money and where dad hides his, so I can just hide my money in another place. Zhou Liulang exclaimed, Dad has money? Yes, I found it. He even told me not to tell mom. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang exchanged looks, as if they realized something significant. Zhou Dalang and Zhou ErLang exchanged a look too. As married men, they knew all too well what their father was up to. The two men cleared their throats and didnt press Manbao any further, only reminding her, Since dad told you not to talk about it, lets not mention it again. Eh, dad didnt tell me not to talk about it, just not to tell mom. Zhou Family members: ...So you think its okay to tell us, right? Zhou Dalang glanced at Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang warningly and said, Dont mention this when we get back either. Then he and Zhou ErLang took their respective daughters to one side for a word of caution, and that seemed to settle the matter. Zhou ErLangs business wasnt great, but he did sell several bamboo baskets and baskets. He would have considered the income adequate before, but compared to Manbao and the others, Zhou ErLang felt it was too little. Since it was still early, they didnt rush to head back; Manbao continued to lead her two brothers and two nieces around on the streets. Of course, Zhou Dalang made a requirement that they could only walk on this street and were not allowed to go outside it. There was no helping it. Their youngest sister was too bold, daring even to go gamble on one street. Who knew what she might do if she ran off? Manbao didnt mind. The street was full of agricultural products, which she browsed with interest. Of course, she preferred playing in the shops on both sides behind the stalls even more. Luckily, there were both grain and general stores here. She led the way first to pick out a roll of good oil paper, then stopped at a grain store to buy some millet. When she heard Zhou Dalang calling to head home, she slowly made her way out. Zhou Dalang glanced at the things they had bought and decided to discuss it with mom once they got back. They had to take all the money from Manbao. The child was too good at spending money. They had come to sell grain in the first place because they were short on money, and now she was buying millet from a grain store. But Manbao had a very valid reason, I asked, millet is for soothing the stomach and boosting energy. I want to buy it for mom to eat. Zhou Dalang sighed repeatedly, We also have it at home. We could mill it when we get back, why buy it? Manbao looked confused and asked, We have it at home? How come Ive never eaten it? Zhou Dalang looked down at the cloth bag in Liulangs hand and pursed his lips, saying nothing. Zhou Liulang grinned and said, Yeomei, youre so silly. We eat millet with the husks at home, and with your small throat, of course, you cant eat that. Zhou Dalang settled Manbao on the wooden cart and said, Thats saved for next April and May during the lean times to make porridge with. Tell Big Brother next time you want to buy something. If we have it at home, theres no need to buy it. Manbao sat still, Dont we know how to hull it at home? Why do we eat it with the husks? Daya and Erya were also curious, as they didnt recall ever eating hulled millet either. With the husks, we can cook more of it, and it also fills the stomach better, Zhou Wulang also sounded a bit resentful. I told you we had it at home, but you didnt believe me. Now, see? Youve wasted money. Manbao just hummed, Who told you to lie to me so often? With such low credibility, of course I dont believe you. Zhou Wulang was stumped and asked indignantly, Did Liulang teach you to say that? Wulang, dont wrong me. How could I teach Manbao to say such things? I dont even know what credibility is. But youre right, Manbao, you used the word well. Wulang really has no credibility, no, let me correct that, he has none. The brothers joked and jostled each other, and Zhou Dalang didnt bother with them either. He lifted Daya and Erya onto the cart and, pushing the cart, hurried out of town. They needed to make it home before sunset. Chapter 42 - 42 31 Rules ?42: Chapter 31 Rules 42: Chapter 31 Rules The Zhou Family hadnt eaten dinner yet, but the meal was all prepared, obviously they were waiting for them. As soon as they reached the entrance of the village, Datou led his younger brothers and sisters who were yowling and rushed over. They didnt care that the cart was still moving, they scrambled to climb on it with all hands and feet. Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang saw it, their eyes creased into smiles. While scolding them, they took the opportunity to stretch out a hand and piled the children onto the cart. From afar, Old Zhou saw the smiles on their faces and knew the trip had been a success; he turned around with his hands behind his back and went back inside. Junior Ms. Qian led the two sisters-in-law to move the table in the hall to the courtyard. It was getting a bit dark inside the house, and itd be wasteful to light the oil lamps when it was still bright outside, so it was better to eat outside. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang, one holding the cloth bag with money and the other carrying a big rooster in a basket, rushed towards the house. Before they even entered, they shouted, Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law, were having stewed chicken tonight! Junior Ms. Qian, without raising her head, said, Wishful thinking, you two. Every time you come back from town, you want to eat chicken? The chickens at home are for laying eggs. Zhou Liulang had already rushed to her, turning his back to let her see the basket behind him, and said loudly, Not the houses chicken, this one. Junior Ms. Qian, seeing the sorry state of the chicken, exclaimed, Where did this chicken come from? Stolen, stolen? Junior Ms. Qian widened her eyes, wondering if, after Silang learned gambling, the two younger ones had learned to steal chickens? What, next time they were going to steal dogs? Junior Ms. Qian couldnt help putting her hands on her hips, but Zhou Liulang was displeased. Turning around, he said, Sister-in-law, do I look like that kind of person? This chicken was given to us. Relieved, Junior Ms. Qian then hefted the wretched rooster out of the basket, weighing it, realizing it was quite heavy. She couldnt help but ask, Whos the fool here? Even if this chicken looks a bit miserable, its still meat, and so fatty too, to just give it away to you. Zhou Liulang chuckled, I also think hes a bit foolish. But some say we still got the short end of the stick. Anyway, its a long story. Sister-in-law, better to kill and stew the chicken first. This is especially for mothers recuperation, brought back by Manbao. Junior Ms. Qian glanced at the time and said, Lets leave it for tomorrow night. She looked closely at the rooster in her hands, muttering to herself, Actually, if we raise it a bit, maybe it could still... Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulangs eyes widened as they seemed to see the chicken meat moving farther away from them. Without a second thought, they turned and called out to Manbao who had just entered the yard, Manbao, Sister-in-law wants to raise the big rooster to sell it, you better persuade her. Junior Ms. Qian gave the brothers a glare. Manbao, not caring that the cart hadnt stopped, rolled down from the cart, then clattered her way to Junior Ms. Qians side, hugging her arm and shaking it, Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law, lets kill the chicken, its for mothers recovery. Roosters are good for vitality and blood, maybe mother will get better after eating it. Ms. Qian walked out of the door lazily, laughing, Manbao, dont bother your sister-in-law, its late. If were going to kill it, we might as well wait until tomorrow. No, look, theres still light, we will light a fire to eat at night, its not late. The children were also looking on eagerly. Old Zhou said, Alright, since its the childrens filial gesture, lets do it tonight. It has to be done either sooner or later, and this chicken doesnt look spirited. It might die by tomorrow. Manbao nodded repeatedly, Dead chicken doesnt taste good. Junior Ms. Qian went to slaughter the chicken; Ms. Feng and Ms. He quickly went to help, one boiling the hot water on the stove, and the other preparing the ingredients for stewing the chicken. There wasnt much to pair with the chicken in the house now, but they could go pluck a couple of big radishes to dice and stew together with it. The three sisters-in-law were busy in the kitchen; Zhou Dalang and the others reported todays events to Old Zhou in the courtyard. How much the grain sold for, how much was spent on medicine, the remainder was handed over to Old Zhou, and Old Zhou then gave it to Ms. Qian. The Zhou Familys finances were always managed by Ms. Qian. The Zhou Familys lands were neither too few nor too many; in good years, there might be a surplus. Fortunately, they had plenty of labor; apart from farming, they could sometimes take on odd jobs to save some money. The family had saved up this much money thanks in large part to Ms. Qian, as she was the one who managed the household affairs, including who did what work and how it was done. Even Old Zhou listened to her. Ms. Qian took the money, counted it, and noted the amount in her mind. Turning around, she noticed Manbao was gossiping with the children in a circle. She couldnt help but smile gently and asked Zhou Dalang, Manbao didnt cause you trouble today, did she? Zhou Dalang glanced at Manbao, who was sticking out her little butt and whispering something to the children, causing an outcry. He hesitated and then said, Father, Mother, today in the county town, Manbao also made a good amount of money. Old Zhou ah-ed in surprise and said with a smile, Did Manbaos flower baskets sell? Zhou Dalang replied, More than that. She also traded a big rooster and in one go made three coins of silver. Old Zhou and Ms. Qian were stunned and hurriedly called Manbao over to ask about it. Manbao was proudly trolling her cousins at that moment. When asked by her parents, she puffed up her chest even more and proudly recounted everything they had done in the county town that day. She grew up listening to stories, her parents told her stories, her brother and sister-in-law told her stories, Mr. Zhuang told her stories, and even Keke often recounted stories to her. Recently, she had come into contact with storybooks and had slightly grasped the art of storytelling, so with gestures and vivid descriptions, everyone was engrossed in listening. Especially Datou and the others who had never been to the county town, they may never have been there, but listening to their little aunts descriptions and imagining it in their minds, they felt as if they had visited too. Having spoken enthusiastically, Manbao got thirsty and Ms. Qian quietly poured her a bowl of water. After drinking, Manbaos eyes sparkled as she said, Mother, you dont know, there are so many people in the county town, so many! Next time, shall I take you there? Ms. Qian smiled slightly, What would I do in the county town? Its fine if you all go. Zhou Dalangs eyes slid from Manbaos little cloth pouch to the cloth bag that Zhou Wulang was holding and said, Mother, isnt it risky to let the children carry so much money? What if they lose it? Ms. Qian also said to Manbao, Manbao, give the money to mother, and I will take care of it for you, alright? Manbao shook her head, I want to take care of it myself, Im an adult now. Ms. Qian smiled slightly and touched her head, Youre also part of our family, do you know our family rules? Manbao shook her head. Ms. Qian explained, When your brothers and sisters-in-law earn money outside, they have to hand over sixty percent to the public fund. If you want to keep your own money, thats fine, but you have to give up sixty percent. Since it was the rule, Manbao had no choice but to agree. After a moment of thought, she said, Alright, but I need to count how much there is first. Chapter 43 - 43 32 The Expenditure ?43: Chapter 32: The Expenditure 43: Chapter 32: The Expenditure Before it got dark, Manbao dragged a sack onto the ground to sit on as she poured out all the coins from her cloth bag, and also took out the spare change and silver ingots from her pocket. Everyones jaws dropped, knowing they had made quite a bit of money, but had no idea there was so much. Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang had been aware all along, so their shock was somewhat limited, but Zhou Sanlang and Zhou Silang couldnt help but widen their eyes, staring blankly with their parents at Manbao squatting on the ground and counting money. Zhou Wulang found a string for tying the coins, and then everyone started to count the money. Zhou Wulang, though he could count to one hundred by a stroke of luck, would often make mistakes, so he counted by tens, compiling them into piles, and when there were ten piles, that made one hundred coins. Manbao despised him for this and told him to string the coins instead, taking over the counting herself. Datou and the others joined in for fun, counting along one by one, but they got mixed up after reaching twenty, sometimes inadvertently shouting seventeen, other times twenty-two. Yet Manbao seemed completely unfazed, continuing her count undistracted. Old Zhou sat to one side, touching the bit of tobacco at his waist he hadnt been willing to smoke, but still pinched a bit to put into his pipe and light it up. He just sat there watching Manbao, his thoughts unreadable. Manbao counted smoothly to one hundred, pushed the coins to Fifth Brother to string them, and started counting again, with Sixth Brother also pinching a string, ready to thread the coins. Datou and others crowded around for the excitement, counting along with Manbao fifteen, sixteen, and stealthily touching the coins once in a while. So many coins, it felt good just to touch them. Manbao quickly finished counting the money. Together with the ten coins of deposit money from Fu Wenyun, there were a total of two hundred and seventy coins. She pulled out the piece of broken silver and asked Ms. Qian to help her weigh it to see how much it was worth. After weighing it, Ms. Qian smiled and said, Three qian four fen, thats equivalent to three hundred and forty coins. Everyone gasped, and Manbao began to calculate with her fingers, breaking into a sweat, while everyone else just watched her adding seventy plus forty and so on. After a long while, Manbao finally shouted, That makes six hundred and ten coins! Ms. Qian smiled and nodded, So how much do you have to turn over to the public fund? It was, of course, impossible for Manbao to calculate it out of thin air, so she scratched her head and eventually had Datou and Second Son help her find six large stones and six small stones. She lined up six large stones and said, This represents one hundred coins, I have to give Mom sixty coins... Manbao placed a small stone in front of the large one, declaring, This is sixty coins. This is also one hundred coins, also for giving Mom sixty coins... thats six sixties in total, Manbao counted, added one by one, and finally clapped her hands saying, Three hundred and sixty coins, just give Mom six more coins. Manbao handed over the broken silver to Ms. Qian, and counted twenty-six coins from the scattered ones to give to her, thus fulfilling her contribution to the public fund. The remaining money was theirs, totaling two hundred and forty-four coins. Manbao called over the friends who had helped her out, counted the number of them, and generously gave each person ten coins. Including Old Zhou and Ms. Qian who had helped her make the bamboo basket, that took away another eighty coins. Considering how much effort Daya, Erya, Wulang, and Liulang had put in accompanying her to the county town today, she generously gave each of them ten coins as well. Everyone watched as Manbao bustled around the room, playing the role of a benefactor, with the children looking to their parents before accepting the money. Seeing Manbao scatter money so freely, Zhou Dalang and the others instinctively wanted to refuse, but then they thought that by doing so, the money would leave Manbaos hands, wouldnt it? Thus, they perked up again, gesturing to their children to accept the money. Taking the money from Manbao was impossible, but taking it from their child was not, and they even joined in the fun, Manbao, we helped with that bamboo basket too, dont we get a wage? Manbao thought this fair, so she also gave each of her brothers some money, and upon turning around and seeing the sisters-in-law, feeling they had worked hard too, she gave them some as well. The tied coins had scattered again, and in the end, Manbao was left with only sixty-four coins in her hands. She didnt mind, cheerfully stuffing them into her pocket, realizing her pocket was too small, and even discussed making it bigger with Junior Ms. Qian. Ms. He was the best at sewing, and she chuckled, Little sister, youre so petite, even if the pocket is enlarged, it wont make much difference. When we have some spare fabric at home, Ill make you a cloth bag, like a pouch. Manbao was delighted, Yes, yes! Her eyes gleamed as she said, Ill design the pattern myself. Ms. He agreed with a smile, carefully storing away the ten coins Manbao had given her. They had emptied all their savings before to pay off Zhou Silangs gambling debts, and now they finally had some income. Although Manbao still had quite a bit of money left, compared to the initial amount of over six hundred, these sixty-four coins were not much in the eyes of the adults. They knew it was impossible to take control of this money from her, so they each looked toward their own son or daughter. Old Zhou set his sight on Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang, contentedly took a puff of his cigarette, and said, You two keep just two coins each, let your mom hold onto the rest for you, to use for your future weddings. Zhou Dalang also told Datou and Daya, Let your mom hold onto it, to buy you new clothes in the future. Zhou Erlang, too, turned to his two children and cajoled, Come, let Dad hold onto it for you, Ill buy you some candy later. The children clutched their coins tightly, wanting to cry but not daring to. The only one not to receive any money at the scene was Zhou Silang and the three little ones. Manbaos gaze landed on Silang but quickly slid past him, then she took out three coins and divided them among Second Son, Fourth Son, and Sanya, generously saying, These are from your little aunt. The three little ones hurriedly took the money, their voices milky as they said to Manbao, Congratulations to Little Aunt for making a fortune. Manbao was beaming with joy. Zhou Silang squatted to the side, almost bursting into tears, and Manbao squatted next to him, sighing, Silang, youre still a bad person right now, so I cant give you money. Zhou Silang asked her with red eyes, Arent I your brother? Why am I a bad person? Gamblers are bad people, Manbao affirmed, Only those who turn over a new leaf can possibly be liked, otherwise, everyone will dislike you. For the first time, Zhou Silang sat silently, his head drooping. When he was the only one without anything, he finally felt the discrimination due to gambling. His eyes reddened, he softly said, I, I realize my mistake. Thats great to hear, just keep it up, show your sincerity to Dad, Mom, and your brothers and sisters, Manbao, mimicking Second Brother, patted his shoulder and asked, Hows the land reclamation going? Zhou Silang sighed, Should be cleared by winter. Manbao replied, Ill help you tomorrow. No, her helping was nothing but aimless bossing around to him. Zhou Silang muttered, Arent you going to school tomorrow? Yeah, but I can visit the field first and then go to school with my sisters-in-law after. Manbao, not yet conscientious of being a student, thought she had the freedom to come and go as she pleased, just as before. Chapter 44 - 44 33 A Blessing from Heaven ?44: Chapter 33: A Blessing from Heaven 44: Chapter 33: A Blessing from Heaven The scent of chicken soup wafted from the kitchen, and Manbao stopped chatting with Fourth Brother, trailing behind Junior Ms. Qian, squeezing into the kitchen to join the excitement. Zhou SiLang also perked up, with no money to his name, but he could still eat chicken, couldnt he? Although the rooster looked pitiful when it was brought back, it was a very robust and handsome bird before the cockfight, well-fed and cared for. As a result, it had plenty of meat, and Junior Ms. Qian purposely reserved half of it, planning to make soup for grandmother the next day. So, there was only half a chicken for tonights meal. But Manbao was unaware since her portion was never less, regardless of who in the family got less. Junior Ms. Qian first ladled soup for grandmother, picked out a few pieces of meat for her, then gave Manbao a chicken leg, and the other children each got a piece of meat. There wasnt much left after that. However, when the adults began eating, they didnt reach for the meat, instead enjoying their radishes with relish. In the end, the last of the chicken naturally filled the bellies of the children, and Zhou SiLang, Wulang, and Liulang ate several pieces, contentedly helping to clear the table, savoring the taste once more. Manbao rarely had the chance to eat chicken. She found it quite delicious tonight and said to Ms. Qian, Mother, when Manbao has money, Ill buy you chicken every day. Ms. Qian chuckled and, patting her little head, said, Alright, Mother will wait for Manbaos chicken. Early to bed, Manbao climbed onto the bed and sneakily entered the systems built-in space to unwrap candy wrappers. She had promised Fu Wenyun shed have a hundred candies for her the next day. As she unwrapped, Manbao, growing tired, complained to Keke, Why must all your candies be wrapped in paper? The system replied, There are some that arent. Manbao immediately responded, What kind are those? Why didnt you buy that kind? Star Interstellar Reviews say those candies arent as good as these. I thought you would prefer this kind, the system explained. Its alright; its not like Im the one eating them. Manbao asked Keke to buy her a bag to try. The system glanced at her points and quickly purchased a large bag for her. Manbao tore open the packaging and found round white candies inside. She tasted one and nodded, Tasty. The system said, There are other colors. Do you want to try them? Manbao asked, Do they taste the same? The system answered, No, theyre different. Then lets buy some to try, she decided. Choosing carefully, the system didnt select candies with particularly bright colors but instead picked shades that were feasible in this world, aiming for better and more even colors than possible here. It knew that the host rarely ate these candies C most were to be sold. The young host didnt consider safety issues, but the system couldnt afford to overlook them. Unaware of these considerations, Manbao eyed the three bags of candies that appeared. She tasted one from each and chose the tastiest variety. She aligned them in order and took a hundred from the bag she deemed the least tasty, planning to have Fifth Brother take them to the county town the next day. With tomorrows plans settled, Manbao lay back in bed, contentedly curling up in her small quilt to sleep. But elsewhere in the house, things were not so calm; parents were coaxing their children to hand over money. Even the money of Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang was forcibly taken by Old Zhou, who took more than half of it. From the original twenty wen, only five were left on hand. This was only because the two brothers had mentioned Old Zhous private stash, and Old Zhou had shown leniency, allowing them to keep some. Otherwise, they probably couldnt have kept a single coin. Old Zhou handed the thirty wen collected from his sons to his wife and whispered, The children are grown and beyond our control, let them keep a little money on them. Ms. Qian secured the money and said, Tomorrow, you take this money and pay off the village chiefs debt first. Old Zhou agreed with a sound, and Ms. Qian continued, I heard Old Master Bai is fixing his house. Tomorrow, have Eldest, Two, and Third go take a look. If they get picked, theres some income to be made. There are lots of expenses in winter, and for the past two years, Manbao has been wearing clothes I altered from my old ones, which arent very warm. Shes going to school to study with the teacher, and its going to be cold there without charcoal heating. We better get her a new set so she doesnt catch cold. Old Zhou grunted in acknowledgement. After discussing the next days tasks, Old Zhou went to check on Manbao in the next room. Seeing that she didnt kick off her covers, he went to bed at ease. Waking up early three days in a row, Manbao had started to develop the habit. As soon as there was a stir outside, she awoke and clambering out of bed, peeked out the window. Seeing her from the courtyard, Junior Ms.Qian exclaimed in surprise, hurrying over to rush Manbao back in, then closing the window and admonishing through the glass, Lass, its cold in the morning. Why are you peering out without dressing properly? What if you catch cold? Ms. Qian, who was already up, called Manbao from inside, saying, Stay put under the blanket, soon Mother will dress you. Manbao stuck out her tongue and snuggled back under the blankets. After getting dressed and freshened up, Manbao quietly found Zhou Wulang, wrapped the candies in a large piece of oil paper, and handed it over to him, whispering, Dont tell dad and mom about this. Otherwise, she couldnt explain where the candies came from. Zhou Wulang assured her it was no problem. He didnt want to mention it either; otherwise, the money he earned would be taken away by their father. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang left for the county town without breakfast, while the adults assumed they went to clear land with Zhou SiLang, unaware of their true destination. As for Zhou SiLang, accustomed to his younger brothers erratic work habitsfishing for three days and drying nets for twohe understood that when not under the watchful eyes of their father and brothers, they acted just the same. So he carried his hoe to the wasteland himself. Daya, Datou, and other sensible children went along to help. Their assistance was limited to cutting grass and collecting stones, then moving the grass and rocks out to build up a pile. Manbao tagged along, eagerly picking up stones. Just as she was getting into it, the jingling sound from the system rang out. The system announced, Host, the research on the two plant species recorded yesterday has been completed, and the rewards have been credited. You can check now. Manbao went to look and saw the numbers had grown significantly. The systems voice held a hint of excitement as it said, Two kinds of plantsWisteria and Azaleaboth primitive species, extinct since the Earth Age. However, their genetic blueprints were preserved, allowing the scientists of the Encyclopedia to quickly confirm their names. The recording of these two plants is significant; hence, the Encyclopedia has awarded the host one thousand points at once as a bonus, with an additional three hundred fifty for the Wisteria and three hundred eighty for the Azalea. Please check. Unable to resist asking, Manbao queried, Why are these so much? Before this, I dug up so many plants for you, and you gave me only one or two points. The roseleaf bramble yielded the most, but that too was only fifty points. The system explained, Points are determined by the Encyclopedia based on value, rarity, and overall significance of the plant. Host, youre luckythe two species became extinct during the Earth Age. Scientists at the Encyclopedia have tried to restore these plants using their genetic blueprints but failed. Thats why your recording of these plants is so important. Host, you have met the requirements to open the store. Would you like to open the store now? Chapter 45 - 45 34 Teaching Girl (reward for book friend 57287 Xiaoxue plus more) ?45: Chapter 34 Teaching Girl (reward for book friend 57287 Xiaoxue plus more) 45: Chapter 34 Teaching Girl (reward for book friend 57287 Xiaoxue plus more) Manbaos attention was immediately diverted, and she nodded eagerly, Yes, yes, open it. So the system screen went black, but Kekes voice was still there, It takes some time to open the store, please wait patiently, Host. Then even the voice was gone. But Manbao was still very happy, feeling full of strength. The most direct manifestation was that she was no longer satisfied with moving stones one at a time, she swung her little hand and threw them out directly. However, her strength was limited, so the stones mostly landed not far from her feet. Zhou Si saw that she had scattered the pile of stones that Datou and the others had worked so hard to stack, and bellowed in anger, Manbao! Manbao was so frightened that she hopped up and ran away. Erya hurriedly chased after her. It was her turn to watch her little auntie today. Erya brought the grumbling Manbao back home, then stayed to help out around the house, sweeping the yard, which was much easier than working in the fields. Manbao then ran to her room and tattled to Ms. Qian, Mom, Fourth Brother just yelled at me, and I was nearly scared to death. Ms. Qian asked, What did you do to upset him? I didnt do anything. I was helping him, Manbao said. I was moving the stones out for him, and because there were so many, I thought I might as well just throw them out, but he didnt appreciate my kindness and even yelled at me. Ms. Qian then said, You must have scattered the stones everywhere instead of throwing them out. Thats giving them more trouble, isnt it? You deserved to be yelled at. Manbao pouted, not convinced. Ms. Qian said, Youre still young, this kind of work isnt suitable for you. You should go to school, follow the teacher, and study more characters and numbers. That way, you can help out at the house in the future. Manbao said, My sister-in-law hasnt gone yet. Your sister-in-law goes to cook, and you go to study. Its not the same thing. Have you seen any student waiting for your sister-in-law to cook before they go? After thinking it over carefully, Manbao realized that indeed there wasnt, and she shook her head. Ms. Qian continued, There you go. Manbao, since youve already accepted a teacher, you should study hard so as not to let down the expectations of your parents and teacher. You should go up the mountain less and head to school after an early rise. Ive already talked to your sister-in-law about it. From now on, she will prepare your breakfast early, youll eat at school at noon, and youll have three meals a day, just like those young masters. Ms. Qian looked at Manbao with a profound gaze, Manbao, you should not only be smart and nimble, but also healthy and safe, understand? I understand, I understand, Manbao nodded her little head. Mom, youve said it many times, nothing is more important than being alive and healthy. Ms. Qian smiled, touched her head and laughed, Thats right. Now, go to the school and apologize to the teacher. You ran out early in the morning, youve been spoiled by following your Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother. Manbao stuck out her tongue and quickly added, Mom, Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother wont be back for breakfast today. Tell sister-in-law not to save it for them. Ms. Qian waved her hand, I know, they wont have it anyway. Go to school now. Manbao felt that her mothers eyes were very calm, as if she knew everything, so she lowered her head and ran out. Ms. Qian smiled slightly and closed her eyes to chant. Her health was already deteriorating, and she would become breathless from just walking a little faster, so she hardly left the house and spent most of her time indoors praying. Manbao ran to the school. Mr. Zhuang was giving a lesson, and when he saw a familiar little head poking around the window, he couldnt help but smile, put down his book, and waved at the little head. Manbao hurried in with a stomp of her feet. Mr. Zhuang smiled and asked, Why didnt you come to the morning class today? Manbao lowered her head, feeling guilty, and whispered an apology, then asked, Teacher, do I have to attend morning classes like Bai Er and the others from now on? Mr. Zhuang nodded with a smile, Yes, I have taken you as my disciple, and Ive discussed it with Old Master Bai, who has agreed to let you enter the school, so you should attend morning classes with the other students. Mr. Zhuang pulled Manbao to his side and introduced her to the other students. In the classroom, all the children knew Manbao very well. So those who were friends with Manbao made faces at her, and because she was short, those sitting in front let her squeeze into a spot. But there were also those who didnt get along with her. They dared not do anything in front of the teacher, but as soon as the teacher wasnt looking, many of them made faces at her. Bai Erlang was the most annoyed, but Manbao sat quite far from him, so he couldnt even kick her stool. The reason why Bai Erlang so disliked Manbao, of course, was because she was really annoying. He had been tossed into school to study at the beginning of the year, a mischievous seven-year-old. Back home, he had been the pampered darling; his grandma adored him, his mom loved him, and his dad always praised himeven his brothers let him have his way. How could he sit still in school? Therefore, on his first day in school, he got his palms smacked, and just as he was being scolded and punished, Manbaos little head wobbled up from outside the window. So, Bai Erlangs first impression of her was not good. But that wasnt the worst of it. The worst was that afterwards, when studying, he found out he couldnt even outperform a younger girl who could only squat outside the window to eavesdrop on the lessons. Of course, Bai Erlang didnt think he was dumb; he felt Manbao was disturbing him. Right, she was a disturbance. He sat by the window, and Manbao squatted outside, which naturally affected him. As a result, he complained to his dad and the teacher numerous times, but to no avail. The teachers solution was to move him to the other side of the window, away from it. But because the distance made it harder for him to threaten Manbao, he could only glower at her from afar, and his performance actually declined. So, the teacher moved him back, and what frustrated him the most was that, somehow, the teacher had convinced his dad that Manbao listening in from outside the window was a good thing, and his dad never put a stop to it. Now it was even more infuriating; she had entered the school on good standing. An angry Bai Erlang could not concentrate on the lesson all morning. His friends came up with a suggestion, Didnt you say you have a really annoying cousin coming to school too? Get them to fight, because if you hit Manbao, the teacher will definitely get mad. Another friend also said, Exactly, the teacher seems to like Manbao a lot, and shes younger than you. If you hit her, youll definitely be in the wrong. By the way, how old is your cousin? Bai Erlang thought they had a good idea and said indifferently, Who cares how old he is? Hes just another annoying brat. Let the two pests fight it out; itd be best if the teacher caught them both and smacked their palms. But how do we get them to fight? Bai Erlangs eyes twirled with an idea, After class, lets go find bugs. Tomorrow during class, well put them on Manbaos desk and blame it on my cousin. Then theyll start fighting. The other two friends thought the idea was great. Chapter 46 - 46 35 Childhood Sweethearts Beating up Each Other ?46: Chapter 35: Childhood Sweethearts Beating up Each Other 46: Chapter 35: Childhood Sweethearts Beating up Each Other Mr. Zhuang was teaching The Analects; he had hand-copied a copy for Manbao, which, added to the previous Thousand Character Classic, meant Manbao now had two books. Manbao was overjoyed, as it was her first time being able to sit in the classroom and have lessons with her classmates. She was especially excited, shouting at the top of her lungs while reading, and particularly eager when answering questions. Mr. Zhuang could feel the classroom atmosphere had become much more lively, so he repeatedly praised Manbao, which made someone even more annoyed. He decided he would go bug hunting with his friends after class, and he wouldnt be satisfied until his annoying cousin and detestable Manbao got into a fight. However, what he didnt expect was that before he could lift a finger, Manbao had already started fighting with his cousin. It was a sunny and breezy afternoon; in fact, just this afternoon, right after the late afternoon classes. Since the school had students not only from Qili Village but also from two nearby villages, to ensure the children could get home safely, Mr. Zhuang always dismissed the class at the late afternoon so that the children from neighboring villages could hurry home while those from the same village could play with their friends before returning home for dinner. Of course, Manbao didnt go home either; she hugged her books and ran out. The Zhou Family had always doted on her, and even though the school was in their village, they would definitely send someone to pick her up. Today, the nine-year-old Datou was assigned the pick-up duty. As soon as Manbao ran out, she heard a commotion outside, forgot about looking for her older nephew to go home, and ran straight towards the noise, hugging her books. When she barged in, she saw her second nephew being pinned down by someone she didnt recognize and being beaten. That made Manbao furious. A stranger dared to bully someone in their village and that someone was her dear nephew. If her uncle could tolerate it, she certainly couldnt. So Manbao dropped her books and pounced forward, pinning down the stranger, screaming as she fought back for her second nephew. Bai Shanbao had just scored a momentary victory and was yet to enjoy it when he was caught off guard and pinned down. Bai Shanbao was furious. He looked up to see who the shameless attacker was but got slapped in the face before he could take a good look. Bai Shanbao was enraged and immediately flipped the person on top of him, reaching out to strike. Manbao used her arm to block it, but the others strength was great. She felt she couldnt win, and in a moment of desperation, she grabbed his arm and bit down on it. Before Manbao could bite down hard, Bai Shanbao felt the pain, let out a waah, and burst into tears, the shrill sound making Manbao pause and then let go. Seeing Bai Shanbao with his eyes closed, crying loudly, she couldnt help but shout, Stop crying, I wont bite you anymore. At that moment, Bai Shanbao was so absorbed in his pain that he couldnt hear anyone else; he just felt the bite must have drawn blood, it must have been excruciating. He cried loudly while Bai Erlang, who couldnt help but laugh aloud, pointed to his face and teased, A real embarrassment, a big strong boy is beaten by a little girl. Although Manbao didnt like the chubby little kid she was fighting, she detested Bai Erlangs tone even more and threatened him with a waved fist, You dare to mock us, be careful Ill beat you up. Bai Erlang blinked, then angrily said, Can you even beat me? I cant beat you, but Ill have my older nephew beat you! The two kids started arguing back and forth, and Bai Shanbao eventually opened his eyes, his tear-stained face looking at Manbao as he slowly rolled up his sleeve to look at his arm. Seeing no blood, he sighed in relief. Then he glared furiously at Manbao, seemingly also wanting to bite her in retaliation. Manbao then turned her attention back to him and preemptively questioned, Why did you hit my nephew? Second Son was quick to tattle, Auntie, he snatched my stone. Bai Shanbao angrily responded, It was clearly mine first; youre the one who snatched it from me! Youre not from our village. The stones of our village belong to us, and youre not allowed to pick them up. Bai Shanbaos face turned red, and before he could reply, Second Son received a smack on the head from Manbao, So youre the bad guy. Im not going to be friends with you anymore. Second Son was taken aback and then said with a grumble, Hes the one who bullied me. Why did you snatch his stone? Manbao said. Ownerless things are up for grabs by anyone. Now that hes got it, its his. Just because its in our village, you think you can snatch it? So if you go to the county and pass through another village, does it mean others can stop you from using the road? Bai Shanbao nodded fiercely, Theres no such unreasonable person. Manbao agreed, Exactly. The two who were just fighting suddenly became allies. With a wronged face, Second Son looked at his aunt. Manbao asked him to return the stone to Bai Shanbao. Second Son reluctantly handed over the particularly smooth stone to him. Bai Shanbao took it, grunted, and though Manbao spoke up for him, he resolved to dislike her still, considering her a bad person. Bai Shanbao glared at her with wide eyes. Manbao stood up, dusted off her bottom, and called for Second Son to go home. Bai Shanbao, not waiting for her apology, was unhappy and pulled at her, You havent said sorry to me yet. Manbao was genuinely puzzled, Why should I say sorry to you? Because you hit me! Manbao retorted, Thats because you hit my nephew. Bai Shanbao insisted, Your nephew was wrong. Manbao defiantly stated, But you cant just hit my nephew. I hit you because you hit my nephew. Anyway, I wont apologize! Youre still a villain, always sneaking attacks! Im not a villain. As long as I win, it doesnt matter whether you think I ambushed you or not. Bai Shanbao insisted, But youre wrong. Ambushers arent true men. Manbao replied, Im not supposed to be a true man; Im a girl... The more they argued, the angrier they got, until Bai Shanbao set down the stone and challenged, How about you fight me fair and square? Why not, if youre so brave? Manbao promptly shoved him. Bai Shanbao, unprepared for her swift action, lost his temper. Being slightly taller and heavier than Manbao, he stumbled back two steps from the push but, in his wrath, immediately wrestled her to the ground, and in an instant, they tumbled into a scuffle on the dirt. Second Sons eyes widened in shock, and he hurriedly rolled up his sleeves to help his aunt. His big brother had sent him to fetch her; if he went back and the grandparents, father, and mother learned he let his aunt fight someone, he and his big brother would definitely get a beating. Although Bai Erlang didnt much care for his sudden cousin, he disliked Manbao even more, so when he saw Second Son helping her, he also stepped in, and the childrens scuffle turned into a brawl. Eventually, someone from the schoolyard called out, and Mr. Zhuang came running to separate the children. Mr. Zhuang was not pleased. He inspected the four children and found that Second Son and Bai Erlang had some red marks on their faces from the scuffle, but no other injuries. Meanwhile, Manbao and Bai Shanbao, who appeared to have fought fiercely, were not hurt, just filthy, most likely from rolling on the ground. Mr. Zhuang weighed his options. It had not been easy for Manbao to be allowed into the school, and he didnt want to blow things out of proportion, but the commotion with Bai Erlang getting beaten couldnt be concealed. After a moments hesitation, he still took the four children back to the school and asked the students to go and call the parents from both families. Better to deal with the situation openly than in secret; this way, if anyone held a grudge, it could be aired out and resolved. Chapter 47 - 47 36 Punishment ?47: Chapter 36: Punishment 47: Chapter 36: Punishment Manbaos first day of school ended with a call for her parents. Even Ms.Qian, who was in ill health, hurriedly rushed out of her room with Junior Ms.Qians support to get to the school. The Bai Familys response was also swift. Old Master Bai hadnt had a year without being called to the school, knowing his sons notorious record there, and that if there was a fight, he was surely the one hitting others, so he wasnt in a rush. But upon hearing Bai Shanbao was also involved in the fight, he couldnt sit still. Bai Shanbao was different from his son; he was a treasure. Old Master Bai didnt dare delay and quickly informed the aunt and sister-in-law, and thus the Bai Family also arrived in a grand procession. The two families met at the entrance to the school. One side was decked out in fine silks, the other in plain cotton with patches, but the anxiety on their faces was the same. In terms of numbers alone, the two sides were evenly matched. But now neither had the intention of sizing up the other, as Ms.Qian and another elderly lady of similar age briskly walked toward Mr. Zhuangs residence. Junior Ms.Qian supported Ms.Qian and met the others at the door, where despite her anxiety, Ms.Qian still pulled at her daughter-in-law to pause, letting the others go first. The other party also paused, and upon seeing Ms.Qian yield, didnt stand on ceremony, just helped her daughter-in-law cross the threshold and hastened inside. Inside the courtyard, four children were lined up, and Mr. Zhuang sat angrily in his chair without uttering a word. The two families that had rushed in saw their own children standing straight, occasionally staring each other down with their gazes, knowing there wasnt a major issue. Whether it was the earlier-arriving mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo or the later ones, they all heaved a similar sigh of relief. Then, both pairs equally ignored their eager children and went together to apologize to Mr. Zhuang. Children fighting in school, even if the reasons were unknown, warranted their immediate shame. Mr. Zhuang saw their understanding of decorum and his expression softened a bit. Then, pointing at the four children, he said, These four children, setting aside Second Son for the moment, the other three are my students. Their fighting outside of the school shows my instruction hasnt been deep enough. Today I called both families here, first, to have you teach your children at home, and second, to inform you that I will be paying special attention to these three children in the future. With rewards and punishments, the parents too should be aware in their hearts. Yesterday, Mr. Zhuang had seen Bai Shanbao at the Bai Family, and Ms.Liu and her daughter-in-law had seen Mr. Zhuang, having settled on Bai Shanbao attending school too. So strictly speaking, Bai Shanbao was also Mr. Zhuangs student. Ms.Liu glanced at the fair-skinned little girl next to her grandson, knowing she was Zhou Man, Mr. Zhuangs disciple, and that Mr. Zhuangs visit to the Bai Family yesterday was because of her enrollment. Ms.Liu certainly didnt believe her grandson would fight with such a soft little girl, so her gaze swept over Bai Erlang and Second Son before she lowered her head to ask, Mr. Zhuang, may I ask why the children started fighting? Mr. Zhuang, having already been angry, was irritated once again when the subject was brought up, though he had calmed some. He set the stone in his hand down on the stone table and said sternly, Over this stone. Everyone stared at the stone together, finding nothing special about itwerent such stones found everywhere? Old Master Bai was the first to confront Bai Erlang, slapping his head angrily and scolding, I told you to focus on your studies! What are you doing with a stone? You got into a fight with your cousin over just a stone? Bai Erlang, holding his head, said, I wasnt fighting with him, I was helping him. I dont care about such a lousy stone, I have many prettier stones than this one in my room! Old Master Bai then looked at Second Son, deducing he was the one who had fought with Shanbao. Seeing he was about the same age as Shanbao but knowing a country boy would surely be stronger, he couldnt help worryingwhat if Shanbao had been really hurt? The aunt would probably cry herself to death. Ms.Liu was also a bit concerned, but with Mr. Zhuang present, she refrained from acting. However, Ms.Zheng, her daughter-in-law, couldnt hold back and pulled Bai Shanbao over to check him, asking, Shanbao, where are you hurt? Manbao, standing aside, made a face at him. Bai Shanbao, whose eyes were already brimming with tears, and who wanted to burst out crying, immediately stopped, returning a fierce glare, and wanting to push Manbao now that he had his grandmother and mothers backing. Junior Ms.Qian quickly pulled Manbao away and hugged her. Thus, the adults of both families were face to face. Second Son, being stared down by Old Master Bai, was scared out of his wits and seeing his father, dove into his embrace, crying, Dad, Dad, I didnt hit him, he hit me! Bai Shanbao also turned around to look and made a face at Manbao, imitating her, Youre just a sore loser! He turned and complained to his mother, Mom, it wasnt him who hit me, it was her! Everyone followed his pointing finger to Manbao and fell silent for a moment. Mr. Zhuang added, Bai Shan hit Second Son, and then Manbao fought with Bai Shan. Second Son wanted to help, so Bai Cheng fought with Second Son. All four of them didnt miss out on the action. Mr. Zhuang said, I think the children are just too full of energy. Well put aside Second Son for now; as for the old sir, please take your child home and teach him well. Bai Cheng, you are to write twenty characters tonight, Bai Shan and Manbao, each of you will write ten characters, and I will examine them tomorrow. Bai Cheng, feeling it unfair, said, Teacher, why do I have to write more than them? Because youre older than them. They fought and you didnt intervene but instead added fuel to the fire by joining in. Tell me, dont you deserve punishment? That still doesnt mean I should be punished more than them. Mr. Zhuang replied indifferently, Twenty-five characters. Old Master Bai glared at his son, and Bai Erlang could only shrink his neck and bow his head. Learning that Manbao was the one fighting with Bai Shanbao, Ms.Liu and Ms.Zheng felt embarrassed. They glanced at Manbao, who was clearly shorter and thinner than Shanbao, and a girl at that, and smiled sheepishly, hugging Bai Shanbao but not bringing up any injuries again. Junior Ms.Qian, meanwhile, quietly felt Manbaos arms, causing her to giggle and squirm at the ticklish touch. Both Ms.Qian and Junior Ms.Qian, paying close attention, unconsciously heaved a sigh of relief, seeing the child didnt appear injured. The parents from both families accepted the punishments on behalf of their children, and the parents of the Bai Family even held Bai Erlang and Bai Shanbao back to apologize to Second Son and Manbao. They had no choice; Bai Erlang was older than Second Son, and Bai Shanbao, not only older than Manbao but also a boy against a girl, all at the Bai Family felt their children had taken advantage. Additionally, fighting over such a trivial issue as a stone. But not to mention Bai Erlang, even Bai Shanbao stubbornly refused to bow his head, snorting twice at Manbao. Manbao, not one to back down, glared back at him. With no resolution in sight and not wanting to worsen their image in front of Mr. Zhuang, the parents from the Bai Family quickly apologized to the Qian Family with a smile before dragging their children away. Planning to come back later to make the children apologize properly. Chapter 48 - 48 37 Teaching the Son ?48: Chapter 37: Teaching the Son 48: Chapter 37: Teaching the Son Mr. Zhuang had the Bai Family take Bai Cheng and Bai Shan back with them, leaving Manbao behind. He returned to the room and produced a stack of paper for Manbao, saying, Turn in the punishment writing by tomorrow. Next time if you fight again, it wont be as simple as writing lines. Manbao obediently agreed, not feeling that writing was a punishment because they had to write when studying anyway. The Qian Family repeatedly bowed and apologized to Mr. Zhuang, leading the two children away. Ms. Liu and her group hadnt walked far when they looked back and saw Zhou Family members escorting Manbao and Ms. Qian back. Ms. Zheng couldnt help but say on looking back, Their family really has a lot of people. Indeed, Old Master Bai said, they have six sons, which isnt the most anyone has had in Qili Village, but its the most that can stand together; thats why their family prospers. Ms. Liu then glanced at Manbao, who was helping Ms. Qian, and asked, Why is their daughter attending school? Old Master Bai laughed and replied, They dont have the money for school. It is just that the little girl is clever, Mr. Zhuang likes her, so he took her as a disciple, allowing her into school. She doesnt need to pay tuition fees, and even the books are handwritten copies provided by Mr. Zhuang. I heard that when he accepted her as a disciple, Mr. Zhuang even gifted their family a set of writing brushes and an inkstone. Thats considered complete. Upon hearing this, Ms. Zheng remarked, Farmers lives are indeed tougher. That shows the child is not only clever but also well-behaved. She must be a delightful child, or else Mr. Zhuang wouldnt be so fond of her talents, Ms. Liu said. She then looked sternly at her grandson and asked him, Zhou Familys young mistress is younger than you and is a girl too. How could you hit someone like her? Bai Shanbao, feeling wronged, raised his arm and said, She started it first; she even bit me. Ms. Zheng, anxious, rolled up his sleeve only to see his arm was clean and smooth, without a mark. Ms. Zheng withdrew her hand, turning to look at her mother-in-law. Ms. Lius face darkened further as she asked, Where did she bite you? Although there was no mark on his arm, Bai Shanbao still felt the sensation lingered, so he pointed to a spot and said, Here! Ms. Liu could not help but lightly tap the table and scold, Shanbao, your grandmother has taught you from a young age never to tell lies! Bai Shanbao was stunned and then began to cry loudly, crying out, Im not lying, she did bite me. If you dont believe it, you can ask her. She was the one who hit me first, and it was a sneak attack. Shes the real baddie! Meanwhile, Ms. Qian was also lecturing Manbao. Having checked and found that Manbao was unharmed, she could now reprimand her with a clear conscience. Youre a girl. If you have a disagreement, you should talk it out reasonably. Why did you resort to hitting someone? Manbao replied, He was beating Second Son. Even then, you should have separated them first and then figured out who was to blame. How could you just hit someone? They were guests. To our village, they are strangers. To bully a stranger is impolite. Ms. Qian said sternly, How did your mother teach you from when you were small? We must be polite. Just now in front of Mr. Zhuang, not only did you not apologize, but you also made a face at them. Is this how I taught you? Feeling somewhat aggrieved, Manbaos eyes started to redden. Ms. Qian turned away and said, You dont need to cry in front of me. Go face the wall and think about whether what I said is right. Ms. Qian wiped away her own tears and continued, I sent you to school so you could learn and understand reason. As a girl, you cant earn a living by showing off your knowledge, nor can you become an official. Why do I send you to school? Isnt it to make you more understanding and well-mannered? If what you learn in school is to fight and brawl, you might as well come home now. I wont allow you to go to school and eavesdrop anymore. Tears streamed down Manbaos face as she felt terribly upset. She rushed over and hugged her mothers legs, crying, Mom, I know I was wrong. Please dont cry or be angry. Ms. Qian turned her head away without saying a word. Manbao cried uncontrollably, I really know I was wrong. Please pay attention to me. Ill go and apologize to him tomorrow... Ms. Qians expression finally softened a bit. Outside, Ms. Feng was scolding Second Son, holding his ears, I told you to fetch your little aunt, and instead, you ended up fighting over a rock. Are you itching for a spanking? Junior Ms. Qian was also punishing Datou, I gave you a task and you found time to slack off, making your little brother do it. How old is he that you send him to fetch your little aunt? Its lucky she wasnt hit today. What if she had encountered an older child? What then? Soon the cries and howls outside rose as Datou and Second Son were being soundly punished. That evening, the three children who had erred sat together heating water in the kitchen. As punishment, they were to boil the water for the night. Of course, Manbao, who had never worked in a kitchen before, didnt know how, so it was Datou who lit the fire, Second Son who tended it, and Manbao who sat hugging her knees in thought. In reality, she was Seeking Keke out for a chat, seeking confirmation from it about whether she really did something wrong. The system flipped through many educational books, putting itself in the place of Manbao and Second Son, and as their elder, Manbaos approach to handling the situation when Second Son was hit was indeed wrong. Hearing Keke say the same, Manbao let her shoulders droop, Then Ill apologize to him tomorrow. Do you think he would forgive me if I offered him candy? The system said, Gifts should be something the recipient likes. Perhaps you could ask them tomorrow. Manbao thought it made sense, so she withdrew her consciousness from the system, and upon coming out, she saw Datou and Second Son with sullen faces. Having thought it through, Manbao, who was always good at correcting her mistakes, decided there was nothing to be sad about. With her spirits lifted again, she saw her two dispirited nephews and unwrapped two candies, putting them in their mouths to console them, Its okay. By tomorrow, Big Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law will have forgotten all about this. Dont be sad. Datou and Second Son, having received an unexpected piece of candy, were no longer sad. They perked up and whispered to Manbao, Little Aunt, dont worry, in a couple of days, when nobodys around, well help you get back at him. Manbao was displeased, It seems you still havent recognized your mistakes. Give me back the candy. I wont give you any more. Datou and Second Son, still with the candy in their mouths, paused and then quickly crunched the candy to pieces, telling Manbao, Already ate it. Manbao was angry, Spit it out! Datou and Second Son hurriedly chewed, then opened their mouths to show Manbao there was nothing left, not even crumbs. Manbao declared, I wont give you candy again. Datou was the clever one. He immediately said, Little Aunt, we realize our mistake. We wont fight anymore and wont go after that boy for revenge. Only then did Manbao begrudgingly forgive them. At the Bai Family, Ms. Liu was making Bai Shanbao kneel on the ground, tears in her eyes, Youve always been bright, and I had hoped you could follow in your fathers footsteps, read and study to shine a light on our ancestors. But look at you, squandering your abilities on trinkets, not even understanding basic etiquette. Fighting is wrong to begin with, and worse still, hitting a younger girl. In front of the teacher, not only did you refuse to admit your fault, but you also glared and made faces... Chapter 49 - 49 38 Desk-mate ?49: Chapter 38: Desk-mate 49: Chapter 38: Desk-mate Early the next morning, while the family was busy, Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang sneaked into the house and cornered Manbao, each taking one of her arms and carrying her to the backyard. They quietly gave her the money they had made from selling candy the day before, In total, its forty coins, which is just right including the deposit. Miss Fu really seemed to like them and said shed buy from us again. Can you ask Mr. Zhuang where he gets his candy and if its expensive? Zhou Wulang had clearly thought of the idea of reselling. Manbao counted out twenty coins for herself and divided the rest between the two boys, saying, I asked the teacher already, and he introduced that person to me. Now were friends; dont worry, I will buy a lot of candies and bring them back for you. Only we have this kind of candy. Next time you go to sell, tell her its one coin per piece. Zhou Liulang felt it was too expensive, Wont it be hard to sell? Well definitely be able to sell them. Miss Fus father is the county magistrate. Look at how many people enter the county every day; how much do you think hes making? Zhou Wulang thought Manbao made sense and whispered, I chatted with the soldiers guarding the city today, and they said the magistrate is going to implement a new policy. From now on, everyone who enters the city will have to pay an entrance fee of one coin, whether theyre carrying a basket or not. Manbao clicked her tongue. Her eyes twirling, she said, Then entering the city empty-handed is a loss for us too. You go into the mountains and find some pretty flowers, let Second Brother make you small bamboo baskets, place a piece of candy inside, and sell them for five coins each. You will definitely be able to sell them. Zhou Wulang thought this was a good idea. He counted out ten coins from the twenty Manbao had given him and handed them to her, saying, Manbao, buy some more candy with this. These ten coins are from Sixth and me. Manbao accepted them without any pressure, and confidently slapped her small chest, saying, No problem! Ms. He brought out egg water but couldnt find Manbao, so she called out, Manbao, where have you gone? Manbao then raised her little arms, and Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang each grabbed one and quickly carried her over. Manbao laughed gleefully, even calling out, Faster, higher! Seeing how the brothers were carrying Manbao, Ms. He couldnt help but slap their backs and rushed them to put her down, Its so early in the morning, and theres still mist outside. Youre making her laugh so much, shell get sick if she breathes in the cold air. Be careful or dad will beat you. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang dropped Manbao and ran off. Manbao thought it was fun and spoke up for them, I think its pretty fun, Third Sister-in-law, please dont scold them. Ms. He had her drink the egg water and said, Sister-in-law has gone to make breakfast. Eat up and head to school. Bring the characters you wrote yesterday with you. Manbao agreed and ran back to find her masterpiece from the night before, a grimy sheet of paper. This was Manbaos first time touching ink to paper to write characters; before, she always used a stick to trace shapes in the dirt. Since it was a stick, long and thick, she grabbed it however was convenient. Manbao had seen people using a brush more than once and knew how to hold one, but it was still a bit difficult when it came to doing it herself. The main issue was that her ink grinding was poor, and it took her a long time to get the ink ready yesterday. But she was nonetheless full of confidence in her writing. She believed she was the only one who could write on her first day of school. Manbao admired her calligraphy for a moment, then carefully stored it between two copied books before going to have breakfast. By the time she arrived at the school, the sun had already risen quite a bit, and many students were there, reading books on their own in the classroom. Manbao, holding her books, ran inside, and immediately saw someone at her deskit was Bai Shanbao. Manbao was about to run up and drive him away, but she remembered she was in the wrong yesterday. She had also promised her mother, Keke, to apologize to him, so she couldnt drive him away now. She could only go up and greet him. Seeing Manbao approaching him, Bai Shanbao immediately tensed his back, placing his hands on his knees. His knees still ached from kneeling for a long time the night before. Bai Shanbao glared at Manbao, but he knew his grandmother and mother must still be in the teachers yard next door, so he dared not start a fight and did not want to quarrel with her either. Little did he know, Manbao ran up to him and said, Im sorry, I shouldnt have hit you yesterday. Bai Shanbao: ...Is this person still the bad person he knew from yesterday? Seeing that he was glaring and not speaking, Manbao thought he was still angry, so she took out a candy wrapped in oil paper from her pocket, held it up to him, and said, Here, Im offering you candy, will you stop being angry, okay? Bai Shanbao looked at the candy in her palm but didnt say anything. To the onlookers outside the window, this scene made Bai Shanbao seem ungraciousa little girl was initiating an apology, yet he wouldnt accept it. Ms. Lius face looked somewhat unpleasant, while Ms. Zheng appeared a bit anxious as she watched her son in the classroom. Old Master Bai quietly offered an explanation on Bai Shanbaos behalf, Shanbao is still young; its natural for him to have a temper, and perhaps hes just shy about talking to a little girl. If hes brave enough to fight, how could he be too shy to talk? Manbao, seeing that he remained silent, took it as acceptance and peeled the oil paper off, shoving the candy straight into his mouth, saying, This is my favorite kind of candy. Its not too sweet, but its not greasy and still fragrant. Bai Shanbao tasted the sweetness and finally snapped back to reality. He looked down at the book in front of him, then looked up at Manbao before softly mm-hmming in response. It took Manbao a good while to realize he was responding to her earlier question. Manbao couldnt help but exclaim, Youre really slow to react. Bai Shanbao just hmphed in reply. Manbao put her book on the table and then watched him. Bai Shanbao also looked at her, and with big eyes staring into big eyes, they glared at each other for quite a long time. Just when the adults outside were about to intervene, Manbao said, Youve forgiven me, so its time for you to go, right? Bai Shanbao was taken aback and asked, Go where? Im here to study! Im here to study too, and this seat is mine! Bai Shanbao, displeased, pressed his hands on the desk and said, Its clearly mine, Mr. Zhuang told me to sit here. Manbao also placed her hands on the desk, angrily saying, Mr. Zhuang told me to sit here too, and I came before you, so this seat is mine! A classmate couldnt hold back and said, One desk is for two students, you two take one side each. This was specially arranged by Mr. Zhuang. Bai Shanbao and Manbao simultaneously looked at the other students and only then did they notice that indeed everyone was paired up, two per desk. Consequently, they both said in unison, I dont want to share a desk with him/her. The classmate said, Theres nothing that can be done about it, you two are the shortest and the youngest in class. If you dont sit together, who would want to sit with you? They looked at each other again, and finally pouted reluctantly, agreeing to the arrangement. Sitting down, Manbao placed The Analects on the desk, and then set the Thousand Character Classic and her homework to one side. Only then did she notice a box at the corner of the desk. She said to Bai Shanbao, Move your box out of the way; this side is my space. Bai Shanbao glanced at it and said, That box isnt mine. Manbaos eyes lit up with a sense of adventure as she dragged the box over, and to her surprise, when she opened it, she found it was filled with more than a dozen bugs. Manbao was stunned. Bai Shanbao, too, stretched his neck curiously and took a look, then he was also stunned. Both kids were baffled for a moment before they cried out Wow and both shut their eyes, bursting into tears. The adults outside the classroom were startled and rushed in all at once. Chapter 50 - 50 39 Silkworm ?50: Chapter 39 Silkworm 50: Chapter 39 Silkworm Lets not speak of Manbao and Shanbao, the two children; even Ms. Liu and Ms. Zheng couldnt help but take a step back in shock when they suddenly saw the dozen or so insects in the box, and hurriedly pulled the two children over to comfort them. Mr. Zhuangs face looked terrible, and he swept his gaze around the entire classroom, angrily asking, Who did this? Three students lowered their heads simultaneously, and Mr. Zhuang knew at a glance. Old Master Bai saw it too, and he just stared at his unfortunate son, feeling smoke might start coming out of his nose. He let out a breath and rolled up his sleeves to catch his son. Bai Erlang let out a wa sound, frightened and crying as he ran away. Although Ms. Liu also thought he was mischievous, she was afraid he might get seriously hurt if his father laid hands on the boy, so she quickly blocked him, saying, Its not a big deal, just teach him a lesson, please dont hit him. After a chaotic scene, the three students were chased out of the classroom to stand as punishment. After crying for a while, Manbao was no longer so afraid, especially with Keke continuously saying in her mind, I have searched already. This type of insect should be what legends call cabbage caterpillars. The encyclopedia doesnt have records of cabbage caterpillars with original genes. It is recommended the host collects them. Thinking that these insects were going to be collected by her, Manbao seemed to not be that frightened anymore, so she opened her eyes and sneaked another peek at the insects. Seeing the childs eyes shining like black opals after the rain, Ms. Liu couldnt help but feel fond of her and, hugging her, asked with a smile, So, not afraid anymore? It was only then that Manbao realized she was being held by Ms. Liu and, embarrassed, came out of her arms, shaking her head and saying, Im not afraid anymore. Hearing this, Bai Shanbao, who was still a bit scared, also came out of his mothers embrace and pretending to be braver than he felt, followed by boasting, Im not afraid anymore either. The adults just smiled slightly. Old Master Bai had quickly closed the box and then put it behind his back with his hands, so the two children wouldnt see it and get frightened again. Manbaos gaze diligently followed the box as it moved. Her expression was so vivid that it made Old Master Bai hesitate for a moment, Do you want it? Thinking the child would be scared, Old Master Bai was surprised when she didnt hesitate to nod and said, Uncle, please give me the insects. If I look at them more, I wont be scared later. Old Master Bai looked at her in amazement, and even Mr. Zhuang couldnt help but get excited, looking at his only student with a face full of gratification. Mr. Zhuang, tugging at his beard and smiling in his eyes, couldnt help but say good several times, then he turned to Old Master Bai and said with a smile, Old Master Bai, lets give them to her. Looking at this little girl who was obviously several years younger than his own son, Old Master Bais eyes turned red with jealousy, such a good child. What a pity she was a girl. Whats more regrettable, she was not his child. Ms. Liu couldnt help but be taken aback then, looking again at her grandsons seat and becoming satisfied. Initially, she had thought it inappropriate for her grandson to share a desk with a little girl. But considering he was the youngest and an outsider who joined later, he might be bullied if put with the older children, so she had agreed to Mr. Zhuangs arrangement. But now it was different; she was quite pleased with her grandsons deskmate. Thus, she put the hands of the two children together and advised them, You are classmates and deskmates, so your relationship should be closer than just ordinary classmates. Classmates are like siblings, let alone both of you, right? Ms. Liu said with a gentle voice, just like her mother, Manbao didnt hesitate to nod her head, even making a promise, Auntie, dont worry, I will take care of him and not let anyone bully him. Bai Shanbao felt displeased, Im older than you, it should be me taking care of you. Ms. Liu paused for a moment and then laughed, Very good, very good, it should be just like that. However, Manbao, you should also call me granny along with Shanbao. Thats how you should address your aunt. Manbao glanced at Ms. Zheng, shook her head, and said, She doesnt look like an auntie but more like a sister-in-law. Ms. Zheng couldnt help but smile, for any woman, who wouldnt be happy to be called younger by a little girl? Ms. Liu, knowing that Manbao had several brothers and having seen her mother and sisters-in-law yesterday, understood they were indeed about the same age as her. But family hierarchy wasnt determined like that. Ms. Liu smiled and said, You and Shanbao are deskmates, that makes you the same generation, so naturally, you should follow Shanbao in what you call people. Shanbaos mother is your auntie and grandmother is also your grandmother, dont you believe it, ask the teacher, isnt it so? Manbao looked toward Mr. Zhuang. Mr. Zhuang nodded. It was the first time Manbao had seen such young aunties and grandmothers. You should know that her father was of a high generation, and she was a late-born daughter. In the village, those she could address as granny were all old women who could only move with a walking stick, those about her mothers age were her aunties, and those around her sisters-in-laws ages were either sisters-in-law or nieces-in-law. Ms. Liu and Ms. Zheng lived worry-free lives and took care of themselves well, looking even younger than her mother and sisters-in-law. But Manbao was always open-minded. Seeing that even the teacher had nodded, she straightforwardly changed the way she addressed them, calling out Granny, Auntie in succession. Then she happily received the box from Old Master Bais hands. Although she was still a little scared inside, thinking of Kekes scientific knowledge, she was not that afraid anymore. Keke, still repeatedly uttering in her mind, said, Ive checked, the encyclopedia says that cabbage caterpillars are the larvae of cabbage butterflies. Do you know butterflies? When it grows up, it turns into a butterfly. Hearing this, Manbao became less scared. As Keke detected the hosts heartbeat and adrenaline levels returning to normal, it continued to provide information, Cabbage caterpillars mainly feed on leaves. Before the second instar, they only chew the flesh of leaves, leaving behind a layer of transparent skin. After the third instar, they consume the leaves, leaving holes or notches. In severe cases, the leaves are completely consumed, leaving only the thick veins and the petiole, leading to complete loss of yield. Therefore, at the end of the 20th century and throughout the 21st century on Earth, to prevent vegetable diseases and pests, many vegetable farmers used large amounts of pesticides, causing an overflow of pesticides and the gradual disappearance of cabbage caterpillars... The system didnt care if Manbao understood or not, it simply recited once more, then added, Cabbage caterpillars can also be turned into chicken and duck feed to supplement their protein, making the chickens and ducks more inclined to lay eggs. The system said, This is all based on documented records. Manbao exclaimed, Then if I feed them to our hens, will they lay eggs every day? The system responded, Its possible. Manbaos enthusiasm for the insects then grew a bit more. Seeing the teacher wasnt around, she sneakily opened the box just a bit to peek inside. Bai Shanbao shuddered a little beside her, but still couldnt help looking at her actions. Manbao stole a glance, her heart quivered, and she quickly covered the box again. Seeing this, Bai Shanbao finally felt a spark of joy, his spirits lifted, and he looked at her with disdain, saying, Coward, you said you werent scared. Manbao pushed the box toward him and challenged, If youre so brave, you look then. Chapter 51 - 51 40 Jealousy (An additional 15000 recommendation votes from Yunqi) ?51: Chapter 40 Jealousy (An additional 15000 recommendation votes from Yunqi) 51: Chapter 40 Jealousy (An additional 15000 recommendation votes from Yunqi) Just look! Whos afraid anyway? Bai Shanbaos face might have been pale, but not wanting to appear weak in front of Manbao, he opened the box with trembling hands. After a quick glance, he turned away and stubbornly said, Im not scared of it. Its just too ugly, and I dont like looking at it. Manbao completely agreed with him and nodded vigorously, saying, Yeah, yeah, I also think its too ugly. Looking at it too much is harmful to the eyes. The two children looked at each other, validating each others words, then both turned to peek at the insect in the box again, quickly turned their heads away, peeked again, and turned away again... Old Master Bai watched this scene from outside the window, then glanced at his son, who was pretending to be very honest, with his head lowered. His foot twitched, but seeing Mr. Zhuang in front, he held back and didnt kick out. Although Mr. Zhuang also punished students with a paddle, he didnt agree with parents hitting their children, especially Old Master Bais method. Seeing his gaze on Bai Erlang becoming more and more unfriendly, Mr. Zhuang signaled for the parents to leave as he was about to start the class. Old Master Bai glared secretly at his youngest son and whispered a warning before ushering out Ms. Liu and Ms. Zheng. Although Qili Village was nestled in a mountain hollow, making entry and exit difficult, the scenery was extremely beautiful. Old Master Bai was a scholar, and when he built the school, he had specifically chosen this beautiful spot C facing the water with a view of the mountains, quite picturesque. Even though the autumn scenery was desolate, the area was still lush with trees, and the roadsides were adorned with many wildflowers, adding a lovely touch. Ms. Liu walked slowly along the riverbank towards the Bai Family estate, wearing a contented expression. She turned to Old Master Bai and said, This place really is a land of outstanding people and immense beauty. Old Master Bai, knowing that his aunt was referring to Manbao, stroked his beard and smiled, Auntie, even if this looks like a poor mountainous area, in fact, there are many good things and good people here. Just wait and see. Ms. Liu nodded, That child, so young yet knows to face difficulties head-on, clearly afraid yet still aware enough to overcome it, I only hope that Shanbao can learn this from her someday. Ms. Liu felt a bit rueful, What a pity, shes a girl. Oh, right, she has so many brothers and nephews; how come not one of them caught Mr. Zhuangs eye? Although Old Master Bai rarely mingled in the village, he still knew about the village affairs. He laughed and said, The cleverness of the Zhou Family probably all went to that child. Ms. Liu thought of the Zhou Family members she had met the previous day and nodded, smiling, The Mrs. Zhou I met yesterday seemed like a virtuous person. Old Master Bai recalled what the housekeeper had mentioned about the Zhou Family and said, not so certainly, Perhaps, but it is said their Eldest and Third are very diligent, and Two has a bit of cleverness, often does small trades at the market. The two chatted as they walked home. Meanwhile, AT the school, Manbao and Shanbao had already put the insect away and started taking out their own books to read along with the teacher. Bai Shanbao initially wanted to overpower his counterpart through reading, so he began by reciting loudly. Despite a hint of babyish tone, his voice was the loudest in class. Manbao loved to join in on the fun, and seeing her desk mate reading loudly, she too raised her voice and started to read along. The two childrens adorable head-shaking and swaying naturally attracted attention. At least Mr. Zhuang, standing on the platform, was particularly pleased, his eyes brimming with mirth as he stroked his beard and nodded along contently as they read. Encouraged by the two, the other students in the class also started to read out loud with more vigor than usual, and even the students who had finished studying The Analects couldnt help but turn back and join in with the reciting. Bai Erlang, who was standing outside the classroom as punishment, couldnt help but turn to steal a glance at the two children inside and snorted as if he had fire coming out of his nose. His two classmates, also punished to stand outside, curiously peeked inside then approached Erlang and asked, Brother Erlang, how come your cousin knows how to read The Analects? Didnt he just start school? Bai Erlang grumbled, Thats why I hate him so much. He started learning at the age of two. My grandmother said, not only can he recite three hundred poems, but hes also memorized the Thousand Character Classic and The Analects. Ever since he came, my grandmother has been giving him my favorite braised pork to eat. In short, hes just as annoying as Manbao. Humph, so what if he can read? Right, right, were better at fighting than he is. How about we wait for him on the road after school this afternoon and beat him up to vent your anger? Bai Erlang hesitated a bit, If my dad finds out, hell definitely thrash me. Well do it sneakily. My eldest brother told me, if you dont want the person you beat up to know who did it, just use a sack. Bai Erlangs eyes shifted, and he whispered, Where do we find a sack? My house has one, but I cant just run home and get it, and your house is closer. Then lets do it tomorrow, another said. Tomorrow well bring sacks, and it would be best if we catch Manbao too. That doesnt sound right, Bai Erlang frowned. Shes a girl. We can just scare her with insects. How can a real man beat a girl? The other also found the idea of hitting a girl embarrassing, so they dropped the proposal. Bai Shanbao and Manbao tried to outdo each other in loudness, each insisting on having the last word louder than the other. Mr. Zhuang, smiling all the while, watched for a good moment before tapping on their desks, advising, A little softer with the voice. Theres a skill to reading, or you wont be able to speak tomorrow. Mr. Zhuang signaled everyone to stop and asked the elementary students to take out their books. He started teaching the new lesson, instructing them to read it until they knew it well. Later in class, he would explain its meaning. After instructing the younger pupils, Mr. Zhuang returned his attention to the older students. In truth, the older group consisted of only five students. Bai Shanbao glanced at Manbao and silently began to read to himself on the side. Manbao also read earnestly. She had always had a good memory, and after reading it over a few times, she had almost memorized it, but she didnt understand its meaning. So she looked around curiously. If this had been before, she would have just asked Keke. But now, with someone sitting right beside her, she thought that instead of talking to Keke in her mind, it would be better to speak out loud to another person. The words spoken out loud had a lovely ringing sound to them. So, she pushed her handwritten textbook towards Shanbao and asked, Do you know what this sentence means? Bai Shanbao glanced at it, and being that he had previously studied it with his grandmother, he proudly said, Of course, I know. Dont you? I dont know, the teacher hasnt had the chance to explain it yet, Manbao said matter-of-factly. But I want to know now. Can you tell me? Bai Shanbao turned to look at her, feeling quite pleased by her gaze. So, he reluctantly shared, Its actually about two disciples of Confucius talking. Ziqin asks Zigong, every time the teacher goes to a place, he learns about that nations political affairshe wonders whether the teacher asks for this information or if others tell him proactively... This was a piece from The Analects, which Bai Shanbao had long memorized, and he remembered the meaning his grandmother had explained to him. Manbao listened with great interest and said, I havent heard this story before. Its so interesting. If only I could travel to different countries like Confucius someday and have people tell me their stories willingly. Chapter 52 - 52 41 Ants Moving House ?52: Chapter 41 Ants Moving House 52: Chapter 41 Ants Moving House Bai Shanbao then said, For that, you need to be as amazing as Confucius himself. Zigong said that it takes the qualities of benevolence, righteousness, respect, thrift, and modesty for everyone to be willing to share their stories with Confucius. Manbao confidently replied, I can definitely do it too. By the way, what does it mean to be benevolent, righteous, respectful, thrifty, and modest? You mean I should be modest, right? Bai Shanbao scorned her, You dont even know what it entails and you say you can do it. Children who boast are not good children. What do you know? Keke said, before doing anything, you have to set a goal first. Thats how you make a plan. And of course, the bigger the goal the better. System: ... Bai Shanbaos eyes rolled with doubt, Really? Manbao nodded firmly, Of course its true. Then, I will be a high-ranking official in the future, a rank higher than my fathers. I dont want to be the same rank as my father. Manbao exclaimed with excitement, What position does your father hold? Bai Shanbao replied with some pride yet modesty, My father is a county magistrate. Manbao had a bad opinion of county magistrates, Magistrates are no good, they always take our money. Bai Shanbao became upset, My father is a good official, and hes even received rewards from the imperial court. Mr. Zhuang had just entered the classroom when he overheard the two childrens conversation. He frowned, wondering how they, at such a young age, had started to criticize the government. Do these two children even know what a county magistrate does? Mr. Zhuang took the two children out into the courtyard to talk. Bai Shanbao was a bit nervous, as his experience told him being called out by the teacher alone was never a good sign. But Manbao was different. Compared to sitting in class, she was more used to sitting in the yard reading and talking with Mr. Zhuang. So, she followed him out cheerfully. Seeing Manbao so happy, Bai Shanbao thought it might not be something bad, so he also relaxed and followed. Mr. Zhuang sat down on the stone bench and summoned the two children over, asking, What were you two just talking about? Shanbao lowered his head, thinking that the teachers question was an accusation, a rebuke for them talking during class. But Manbao didnt see it that way. Hearing the teachers question, she happily recounted their entire conversation and even asked, Teacher, are there good county magistrates too? Mr. Zhuang couldnt help asking her, Why would you think that magistrates are bad? Manbao talked about how the other day when she went to the county city, she had to pay an extra coin to enter, and also mentioned the news that her Fifth Brother had heard from the city that pedestrians would soon have to pay an entry fee as well. Thats why she thought all magistrates were bad, only taking money from the common people. After a moment of silence, Mr. Zhuang asked, Do you know what a county magistrate is supposed to do? Shanbao glanced at Manbao, then at the teacher, sensing that Mr. Zhuang was different from their previous teachers. So, he boldly replied, The county magistrate is like a parent to the people of the county, managing the common folks. Mr. Zhuang stroked his beard with a smile and asked, What else? Bai Shanbao was not an honest child by nature; if he had been, he wouldnt have been frequently called out by teachers during the clan school, nor would he have dared to make faces at Manbao in front of his parents the day before. So, with Mr. Zhuangs encouragement and Manbao by his side as an example, he joined in on the eager answering. Manbao said, They collect the entry fees! Shanbao said, They adjudicate cases. Manbao added, They collect grain taxes. My family just paid our grain tax not long ago. It was then that Zhou Silang accompanied the villagers to escort the grain to the county city and got mixed up in gambling. Shanbao then said, They also catch thieves and defend the common peoples cause. Shanbao tilted his head in thought, scratching it and added, They have to persuade the common people to plant crops and raise silkworms on mulberry trees. Manbao mocked him, Thats so dumb. We are farmers; we know when to plant. Do we need the magistrate to persuade us? We do, ask the teacher if you dont believe me. My grandmother said that county magistrates should advocate for agriculture and sericulture. My father died while he was out advocating for it when he encountered bandits, he insisted. Mr. Zhuang, not expecting Shanbao to be the descendant of a martyr, became even more gentle. He reached out to pat his head, saying, The things you two are insisting on are only superficial aspects youve seen, and thats not correct. The two children looked bewildered. Seeing their puzzled faces, Mr. Zhuang felt at a loss for words. The children were still too young; even if he explained it to them, they might not understand. Mr. Zhuang was deep in thought, his gaze lowered, not revealing what was on his mind. The two children waited quietly. After a while, with Mr. Zhuang still not speaking, Manbao began scratching her head, rocking her body from side to side and, by accident, bumped into Shanbao. Shanbao glanced at the teacher and then pushed back with his small body. Manbao, almost falling over, blinked and pushed back as well. The two children seemed to find a competitive interest in their jostling; taking advantage of Mr. Zhuangs distraction, their small bodies came together, each pushing the other with force. Mr. Zhuang was still deep in thought when he caught sight of an anthill nearby, which sparked an idea. He looked up and noticed the two children jostling each other, prompting him to clear his throat with a headache. Manbao and Shanbao instantly straightened up, but since Shanbao stopped pushing first, Manbao, a little delayed, bumped right into him, knocking Shanbao to the ground. The two children rolled into a tangle. Mr. Zhuang feared they might cry, but they quickly got up and stood properly again. Mixed with amusement and irritation, Mr. Zhuang called them over, Come here. The children approached, and Mr. Zhuang pointed to the anthill on the ground for them to see, What is this? The two children raced to answer, Ants! Right, these are ants. Now, tell me if they are good or bad? he asked. The two children were stumped, Do ants really come in good or bad? Youve labeled magistrates as good or bad, why cant ants be the same? he countered. Manbao declared, Then theyre bad, because they steal our food. Look, theyre carrying grains of rice. They must have stolen it. Shanbao nodded in agreement. Mr. Zhuang burst into laughter and said, Now Im not asking if ants are good or bad; Im asking what you see. Shanbao said, Theyre lining up to move things. Manbao, having observed ants before, noted, When ants move their nest, it means rain is coming. Mr. Zhuang then inquired, How do you know when ants move their nest it is going to rain? Did you see rain coming? Both children looked up at the blazing sun and shook their heads simultaneously, but Manbao persisted, My mother said so, that when ants move their nest, rain is on the way. Mr. Zhuang nodded, Lets wait and see if it rains today. Shanbao whispered to her, With the sun so bright, how could it rain? Manbao began to doubt as well, for this was something her mother and others frequently mentioned, so she remembered it, but she had never really paid attention to whether it was true that rain always followed when ants moved their nest. Chapter 53 - 53 42 Reconciliation ?53: Chapter 42: Reconciliation 53: Chapter 42: Reconciliation Mr. Zhuang didnt say too much to them. He had many principles he wanted to impart, but he also needed the two children to understand and internalize them. Anyway, the two children were still young; he had plenty of time to communicate his lessons to them and Mr. Zhuang was not in a rush. Mr. Zhuang then turned to check on Bai Shanbaos lessons since he was new. He needed to figure out his progress to be able to plan his curriculum accordingly. Bai Shanbao had already memorized The Analects, only the meaning of the latter half was not yet learned. After asking around, Mr. Zhuang knew he had learned from his previous teacher and Ms. Liu, nodded with satisfaction, and allowed the two children to return to class. For the first time, Manbao felt that there was a child more capable than herself. Following beside him, she said, You learn faster than I do. I started studying at the age of one; Ive just managed the Thousand Character Classic so far. Bai Shanbao then felt she was indeed slower, saying, I started studying at age two and memorized the Thousand Character Classic in just three months. Of course, Bai Shanbao didnt tell her that he had only memorized it, and did not recognize the characters. It wasnt until he was three that he started to learn to recognize and write characters using his textbooks. Having a smart desk mate, Manbao, not wanting to be outdone, was especially attentive in class and enjoyed thinking actively, which led to many questions. For instance, Mr. Zhuang explained the meaning of the virtues of gentleness, uprightness, solemnity, thrift, and modesty. So Manbao asked, what behaviors would qualify as gentle, upright, solemn, thrifty, and modest? After pondering, she felt she met all five criteria, so was she now a sage? Looking at his outspoken disciple, Mr. Zhuang was about to speak when Bai Shanbao interjected, Not to mention others, you dont meet the standards of being upright, gentle, solemn, nor modest. Bai Shanbao continued, You were biased in favor of your nephew yesterday, thats not upright. When you fought with me, you were neither gentle, solemn, nor modestand biting me is even further from modesty. Manbao glared, I cant just let you bully my nephew and me. I want to be a sage like Confucius, not a fool. Seeing the two children on the verge of another argument, Mr. Zhuang knocked on the desk and said, Are you two listening to the lesson or not? Bai Shanbao and Zhou Man sat up straight, placed their hands on their knees, and lifted their heads to attentively listen to Mr. Zhuangs lecture. Only then did Mr. Zhuang list some examples of how Confucius embodied gentleness, uprightness, solemnity, thrift, and modesty. For a whole morning, they had only one lesson; Mr. Zhuang asked them to recognize characters and recite silently, then he went to teach the university students seated to one side. Although the system had watched this many times before, it still couldnt help but marvel at the wisdom of the ancients. In terms of educational resources, the ancient times were far behind the future. Yet it was in this backward era that the breadth of knowledge of the teachers and their personalized teaching was unrivaled for many ages to come. This was especially true later when the eight-legged essay became prevalent, unifying the educational system and leading to a monotonous education. Of course, the system didnt share these thoughts with Manbao, but just silently watched her boast to Bai Shanbao that she had already memorized the days lesson and remembered the meaning explained by the teacher. Bai Shanbao hummed, I memorized it a long time ago, and remembered it already. I have memorized the entire chapter. Sensing Bai Shanbaos pride, Manbao was full of fighting spirit, I will surpass you in the future. She didnt just say so; she acted upon it. Manbao reopened her book that she had closed and started looking at the questions in the back. Having already recognized many characters, she could read on her own. Moreover, the book Mr. Zhuang gave her to copy had already been punctuated, saving her from having to break the sentences herself, and she just read on, nodding and swaying her head. The first read was very obscure, the second read less stumbling, and by the third read it became much smoother. After going over it once more, Manbao could recite it haltingly. Confident, she thought she had it memorized, so she flipped to the next section to continue reciting. In a short while, Manbao had memorized three or four lessons. Bai Shanbao was so surprised that he opened his mouth wide; no longer able to sneak off to play, he quickly opened the book and started reciting as well. He couldnt let her outdo him. When the midday bell rang, the children rushed out, each grabbing their large bowls and lining up in the kitchen to get food. Manbao, being younger with shorter legs, ended up towards the back, while Bai Shanbao, being new, was still not accustomed and took a moment to react as everyone else ran out. It was Manbao, who had run to the door, who noticed something was wrong, turned back to find his large bowl, and pulled him along with her to the queue. So the two youngest ended up being the last in line. However, Manbao wasnt the least bit worried; she even proudly told Bai Shanbao, The one cooking and serving the food is my elder sister-in-law. If you follow me, youll surely get more to eat. Initially, Bai Shanbao didnt think there was anything to be proud of, but hearing Manbao say it and seeing her pride, he couldnt help but feel a bit envious. Indeed, when it was their turn, Junior Ms. Qian smiled at them and served them a lot of food. The students could return to the classroom to eat, but most didnt like to go back. They preferred to stand or sit in the courtyard to eat, with some even running across to the grassy area opposite the road to eat while playing. Bai Shanbao squatted next to Manbao to eat his rice, finding the schools meals quite delicious, as he ate with relish. After lunch, the students could play around the school, of course, they were not allowed near the river. Mr. Zhuang would sit in front of the courtyard and keep watch every day; anyone who approached the river would not only be slapped on the hands, but also punished by having to recite and write. Thus, though everyone was tempted by the nearby river, so far no student had been brazen enough to play there. Manbao certainly wouldnt go. She ran back to fetch her box of insects, intending to practice bravery with Bai Shanbao. She had decided that once the insects were no longer useful to her, she would give them to Keke. Keke: ... Then Manbao and Shanbao ended up killing the dozen or so insects in their play. Feeling somewhat apologetic, Manbao decided to take the insects home to feed the chickens, hoping they would lay more eggs. She would then catch some more for Keke in the future. Thats what Manbao was thinking, and thats what she told Keke. What else could the system do? It could only agree. It certainly couldnt force Manbao to catch insects for it, right? Thus, Shanbao and Manbao agreed to catch bugs together the next day. Both children felt that they were no longer afraid of insects. Since that was the case, of course, they were going to catch insects. The most important fact was, having been thrown the insects, how could they not throw them back? The pair seemed to have forgotten about their fight from yesterday, planning what theyd do tomorrow, casting veiled glances at Bai Erlang, who was delivering a grand speech in the classroom. Bai Shanbao even tattled to Manbao, Hes especially mean. As soon as I arrived, he tried to take my rocking horse. When I didnt give it to him, he threw a tantrum on the ground. Manbao was curious, What happened then? Did your mother give it to him? She didnt, Bai Shanbao said proudly with his little head tilted back, My grandmother was going to give it to him, so I threw a tantrum too. Then he got a spanking from my uncle, hmph! Chapter 54 - 54 43 Seeing the Essence Through the Phenomenon ?54: Chapter 43: Seeing the Essence Through the Phenomenon 54: Chapter 43: Seeing the Essence Through the Phenomenon It was still a clear, sunny sky at noon, but by the afternoon, as class was about to end, the sky had begun to fill with dark clouds. Manbao and Bai Shanbao leaned over the desk to take a look outside and both were a bit excitedthe ants were moving their home, which really did predict rain. Mr. Zhuang saw this too, and after class, he asked the students to stay in the classroom to wait for someone from home to come get them, then he took Manbao and Shanbao to the courtyard next to the one where he lived. Bringing the two children to his study, he asked, What did you see this morning? And what do you see now? Manbao said, Its raining. Ants moving their home means its going to rain. Mr. Zhuang laughed and said, Silly children, youve got the sequence reversed. Its not that ants moving their home causes rain, but rather the ants move their homes because they sense the rain coming. They move to a safe place, and when people see this, they know its about to rain. Mr. Zhuang spoke slowly, and the two children counted on their fingers, found this to be true, and nodded in agreement. Mr. Zhuang pointed to the curtain of rain outside and continued to ask, And what do you see now? The two children said in unison, Its raining. These are all appearances, Mr. Zhuang said. Manbao, your parents told you that ants moving predicts rain, so you believed that ants moving causes rain. Shanbao, youve never heard such a thing, so all you saw was ants moving their home. But do you know what your teacher thinks of when he sees ants? The two children shook their heads. The teacher not only thinks that its about to rain, he also thinks, There are so many ants under my house. Ants gnaw at the building and furniture, so we need to start controlling pests in the house. And I also think, A dyke thousands of miles long may be destroyed by an ant hole...'' Mr. Zhuang explained to them in detail about ants. Manbao and Shanbao listened in a daze, not knowing that not only could tiny ants kill a large tree, but they could also hollow out a house and destroy a thousand-mile dyke in an instant. After talking about ants, Mr. Zhuang spoke of the autumn rain outside, telling them that what they saw was just a rain shower, but to different people, this autumn rain had different meanings. To these children, the autumn rain simply meant they were temporarily confined to school, but to the farmers, the rain meant they could start plowing and preparing the field for the next years crops. For those who needed to travel, however, this autumn rain was more harmful than beneficial, as it caused unknown delays. Mr. Zhuang spoke with the two children about all this in detail. It seemed unrelated and haphazard, but then he skillfully brought the conversation back to the issue of the county magistrate. This morning, when I asked you what a county magistrate does, you told me what you had directly observed with your eyes and what you had heard with your ears. But in truth, what you said was incomplete, Mr. Zhuang said. Sometimes what you see with your eyes and hear with your ears is not what you should be thinking in your heart. You need to observe more, listen more, and think more. If your heart is overwhelmed with emotions, then hold off on forming an opinion. Let some time pass, and when you are calm enough, think about these matters again. You might gain a different insight. The two children understood a little, but not completely. However, Mr. Zhuang did not insist on them understanding at the moment, but told them to remember his words. When the time came for them to understand, they would. As they spoke, the families of both the Bai and Zhou arrived to pick up the children. Manbao and Shanbao bid farewell to the teacher and, holding hands, they ran out into the rain. Drenched, they were overjoyed. As the two children ran out, they specifically sought out puddles to splash in, flinging water every which way and becoming even more thrilled. Soon, the reproach and scolding of the adults from both families echoed from outside the courtyard, as the two children continued to splash the water with a patter, running towards their respective families. Mr. Zhuang stood at the door, stroking his beard again and again, but his mind pondered the words Manbao had spoken. Why is the county magistrate raising the entry fee to the city this time? Mr. Zhuang was naturally more informed than the Zhou family folks. In fact, three years earlier, when County Magistrate Fu had first come to Luojiang County, he had already increased the entry fee. Not only that, but the levies and labor taxes were also heavier. Subsequently, within two years, County Magistrate Fu repaired a section of the official road, reinforced the Luojiang dike, and dug a new water canal for the county. County magistrates had a three-year tenure. This year, since Fu was not transferred, it indicated he would serve another term. However, it was unclear whether he intended to enact any public works or do nothing at all. Mr. Zhuang was somewhat anxious about this. But, of course, these issues were not for discussion with two children. Manbao was carried home by Ms. Feng. Upon arriving, she went straight to the kitchen to get hot water for her baththere was no choice. The child had been playing in the water, and not only were her shoes wet, her trousers were quite damp as well. Ms. Qian touched her little hands and scolded her, Youre becoming more and more of a handful. Why does it seem like youre getting naughtier since attending school? Manbao replied, Bai Shanbao played in the water too. He is him, and you are you. Maybe he even learned it from you. You were sent to school to learn good behavior, not to pick up bad habits, and definitely not to teach them to other children. Manbao sighed, Alright, then I wont play in the water anymore. A childs promise is as unreliable as the weather in July. Ms. Qian had Ms. Feng wash her and gave her a bowl of hot water to drink before letting her go play, only warning her, Dont go outside and splash in the water or you wont be allowed to go to school tomorrow. Manbao was in love with studying. How could she bear to miss it? So, she could only sit in the main room, waiting for her brothers to return. Zhou SiLang and his younger brothers took shelter from the rain under a tree, waiting until the rain was lighter before running back, though they too were wet. Today, Zhou Wulang and others had helped with land clearing and had cut quite a few bamboo canes. As soon as they returned, they exchanged glances with their little sister. Manbao understood, so when Zhou Erlang came back, she started pestering him to help her make flower baskets. Zhou Erlang was about to speak. Previously, Manbaos flower baskets had earned a good sum of money. Zhou Erlang hadnt voiced it, but he was quite tempted; however, he was too busy with other affairs to spare the time. Hearing Manbaos request, he immediately knew this was Fifth and Sixths idea and did not decline, saying, Let Fifth and Sixth prepare the bamboo strips, and I will help them weave when I am back. Even Old Zhou rarely said, Ill help you weave when Im back from the field. After a moment of thought, feeling Zhou SiLangs efforts in clearing were unreliable, he hesitated, Maybe Zhou SiLang should stop clearing the land. That plot at the foot of the mountain, even if we cultivate it, it might not become fertile for a couple of years. Why bother? Its better to stay home and help with some chores. Zhou SiLangs spirits lifted, ready to agree. However, Manbao would not consent. She said, Dad, SiLang is being punished for not obeying. The teacher said that changing ones orders overnight is a big taboo. If SiLang thinks its fine to make mistakes in the future, then what? If he dares, Ill see if I dont beat him to death! Manbao scorned her father, You surely wont beat him to death, SiLang. Otherwise, how sad would you be? Caught off guard, Old Zhou waved his hand and said, Fine, let SiLang continue to clear the land. Fifth and Sixth, see if you can make a long-lasting business out of the flower baskets. Chapter 55 - 55 44 Teach Writing (Wishing my reader Tang Shuning a speedy recovery) ?55: Chapter 44 Teach Writing (Wishing my reader Tang Shuning a speedy recovery) 55: Chapter 44 Teach Writing (Wishing my reader Tang Shuning a speedy recovery) Zhou SiLang crouched beside Manbao and sighed again and again, Little sister, have I offended you before? Manbao nodded, Youve offended our entire family. Zhou SiLang fell silent for quite a long time before he said, What if I said Ive really changed now, would you believe me? Although she didnt believe it in her heart, Manbao still nodded, I believe you, so Fourth Brother, you really need to work hard to pay back the money you owe to our family and to your elder brothers and sisters-in-law. Zhou Silangs shoulders slumped, Farming doesnt make money. Manbao disagreed, A lot of people farm, Dad and Mom farm, the elder brothers and sisters-in-law farm, even Old Master Bais family farms. But those are good lands. Looking back hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of years, the land has always been the same, isnt it all nurtured by people? Manbao had already asked Keke and was very confident, consoling Zhou SiLang, Dont worry, Fourth Brother, you just focus on working the land into shape. When the time comes, Ill bring Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother to help you nurture it. Later, Ill talk to Dad and have the land you cultivated divided up for you. Money can be earned gradually. If you cant pay it back, your son is still there. Zhou SiLang: ... Manbao had everything planned out, Although your son has to pay off your debts, if he gets more land than Datou when the family divides the property, he will surely be willing to do it. Actually, I also want Datou and the others to start working on a plot of their own, so that in the future, they can pass it down to their descendants. Zhou SiLang: Manbao, you really think a lot. Manbao: Of course, the teacher said, one must think long-term, and cannot just look at whats in front of them. I was just thinking, why is Old Master Bais family wealthy? Zhou SiLang: Because they have a lot of land. Yes, because they have a lot of land. So much land that they can hire many people to help them farm it. All he needs to do is lie at home counting his money, Manbao ambitiously declared, If our family also had a lot of land, couldnt we become people like Landlord Bai? Zhou SiLang turned and walked away. Manbao, still very enthusiastic, tried to keep him from leaving, Fourth Brother, dont go, I havent finished speaking yet. Zhou SiLang no longer wanted to listen to her. Cultivating new lands was exhausting; it was almost all about physical labor. Every day upon returning home, Zhou SiLang just wanted to sit on the ground motionless. After eating a simple meal and quickly washing up, he would head to bed before it even got dark. Zhou SiLang touched his sore shoulders and back and for the first time, tears of regret streamed down his face. He truly realized his mistake. As Zhou SiLang wiped away his tears inside the house, Manbao seized the opportunity before nightfall to gather her buddies to teach them how to read. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang also crowded around out of curiosity. The first thing Manbao taught them was the names of their province, village, and then their own names. She explained, This is what the teacher taught me. He said I should memorize it, so if I ever get lost or kidnapped, I can remember where my home is and my name. Ms.Feng couldnt help spitting in disgust, Children say the darnedest things, let the wind blow it away. Little girl, dont talk nonsense, how could you possibly get lost? Junior Ms. Qian, on the other hand, said, This method isnt bad, hurry and let the kids memorize it. Five and Sixth also have to rememberwhen you go to the county town in the future, you must not get lost. Big sister-in-law, Five and Sixth are already big lads, who would kidnap them? You never know, Junior Ms.Qian replied, Its a time of peace now, everywhere people are needed, what if theres someone audacious enough to kidnap Five and Sixth to use them as forced labor? Its not like such things havent happened. Ms.Feng was surprised, Has something like that happened? Of course it has, Junior Ms.Qian continued. As the little girl jumped in front of her, her eyes sparkling with interest, she knew she loved to hear such stories, so she smiled and said, That was when I was a child. It was said that two brothers from our village, one well into his twenties, the other just of age, went to the county town to look for work and got separated from someone from the same village. As a result, they were kidnapped. Their family thought they had died. After several years, the younger brother came back, barely recognizable. He said they were confined in a quarry chiseling stone. They were barely fed a single bun a day; many were worked or starved to death. Otherwise, what do you thinkwhy does everyone go to the county town in groups with their brothers? Its all because of incidents from the past. Manbao looked at Fifth Brother and Sixth, anxious, Fifth Brother, Sixth, maybe you shouldnt go to the county town. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang felt a bit uneasy, but thinking of the substantial profits to be made, they couldnt bring themselves to agree. Old Zhou took a puff from his dry pipe and said, Two, take Five and Sixth with you tomorrow morning and teach them how to travel properly. Zhou ErLang replied with a yes. Manbao then curiously asked her father, Dad, is there a certain way to walk? Indeed, let your Fifth Brother tell you tomorrow when he comes back. Manbao looked forward to it. As it was everyones first time learning to read, they obviously couldnt recognize too many characters. Thus, Manbao only taught them the three characters for Qili Village. Everyone practiced by sketching with sticks on the ground. Seeing the unusually attentive kids after supper and not running out to play, Junior Ms.Qian and the three sisters-in-law smiled, pleased. Junior Ms.Qian and Ms.Feng were about to ask Daya and Erya to wash the dishes when they turned and saw them squatting on the ground, drawing intently. Hesitating for a moment, Junior Ms. Qian still pulled Ms.Feng and said, Lets leave it, well wash the dishes, let them play together, cousins and all. Usually, the chore of washing dishes was done by Daya and Erya. Although Ms.Feng was not too happy to have another chore, she nodded in agreement after seeing her happy daughter. Well, at least they would know where their home was after learning a few characters. Manbao taught with dedication, and the students learned with equal seriousness. When it got so dark that they could scarcely see clearly anymore, Manbao threw aside the stick, and everyone started playing games together. Rarely did anyone in the Zhou family ask Manbao what she learned in school, because even if she told them, they wouldnt understand. Every day when Manbao came home, they only asked if she had been bullied. Knowing she hadnt, they didnt ask any more questions. As for how Manbao was doing in her studies at school, was there really a need to ask? Of course, she was doing very well. In the minds of everyone in the Zhou family, was there anyone in the entire Qili Village smarter than their little sister? Havent they seen Mr. Zhuang willing to accept her as a disciple even without a tuition fee? The Zhou family felt at ease, but the Bai family had a different attitude toward Bai Shanbao. No sooner had Bai Shanbao returned home than his mother Ms.Zheng pulled him over for a check, first asking if he had gotten into a fight that day. Upon receiving a negative response, she then asked if he had bullied anyone, and after another denial, she finally asked if he had been bullied, to which the answer was again no. Ms.Zheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. As for her son intentionally stepping in puddles and getting his shoes and trousers wet, that was a minor matter. She instructed the servants to take her son for a bath and a change of clothes and then gave him a bowl of ginger soup before taking him to see his grandmother. Chapter 56 - 56 45 Soul Painter ?56: Chapter 45: Soul Painter 56: Chapter 45: Soul Painter Ms. Liu asked what he had learned that day. Bai Shanbao, experienced in dealing with his grandmother, only told her about the content of the class discussions with Mr. Zhuang, not mentioning his and Manbaos plan to catch bugs to scare Second Cousin. Even without thinking too hard, Ms. Liu knew her grandson couldnt have been behaving that well in school, especially since Mr. Zhuang had unusually brought up the responsibilities of the County Magistrate. There must have been a reason for this, but she didnt ask too much. Instead, she waved her grandson over to explain to him what a County Magistrate was and the duties such a role entailed. Bai Shanbao listened attentively and decided he would tell Manbao the next day, smug in the knowledge that he knew much more than she did. Seeing her grandson so earnest, Ms. Liu spoke even more thoroughly and with increasing gentleness, unlike his previous rebellious attitude. When Bai Shanbao didnt understand something, he would ask about it, and he eventually brought up how Manbao had said their County Magistrate was a bad person who had increased the entry fees to the city. Only then did Ms. Liu understand Mr. Zhuangs methods of teaching, including watching ants, observing the autumn rain, and storytelling. Ms. Liu said, Repairing roads costs money, maintaining dykes costs money, and improving water conservancy also costs money. If County Magistrate Fu has these expenses, increasing the entry fee isnt necessarily wrong. Bai Shanbao understood this point very welleverything needed money. His mother had told him that they moved to the mountain because the clan had bullied them, a widow and her orphan, trying to swallow up all their familys assets. She said that those assets were meant to make money, and in the future, whether it was for his education, taking exams, getting married, or becoming an official, it would all require money, and all of that money was meant for him. Since then, Bai Shanbao understood money was very important, so important that even powerful people like the clan leader would shamelessly try to take it from them. But Ms. Liu felt this move to Qili Village was the right decision. Although there were many clan school teachers and more resources in Longzhou, her grandson was always isolated in the clan school, and the familys issues somewhat affected him. He was smart but refused to listen attentively in class, misbehaving, getting into fights, and worst of all, the teachers in the clan school were not fair to him. Over time, if not spoiled into a playboy, he would become a jaded and cynical person, neither of which Ms. Liu wanted to see. Having raised her son alone after being widowed at a young age, she naturally could do so again with her grandson. Ms. Liu, with a resolute gaze, felt they had taken the correct step. And most fortunately, they had found Mr. Zhuang in this mountain valleyperhaps this was the Bai familys fate. Ms. Liu called over her daughter-in-law and said, Although we are close to Old Sevens family, since weve decided to live here permanently, it wouldnt be appropriate to keep staying with them. My idea is to buy a plot of land in the village, build a small separate residence to move into. This way our families will be close enough to look out for each other while still maintaining our own spaces, comfortable, right? Ms. Zheng had no objections as she was used to following her mother-in-laws instructions. But Bai Shanbao, with many ideas of his own, was playing nearby and when he heard his grandmother, he ran up saying, Pick one near the river. That way we can bring water into our home, dig a big pond, and I can raise turtles. Why are you still thinking about raising turtles? His previously sought-after turtle had caused a fight, resulting in Second Uncles grandsons head injury. His grandmother had to make significant amends for that incident, and even now, Ms. Zheng felt the sting of loss. But Bai Shanbao insisted, I want to raise turtles and, once theyre big, make soup for my grandmother. Ms. Zhengs expression was somewhat speechless, but Ms. Liu understood her grandsons sentiments, patting his head and smiling, Alright, alright, well dig a pond for your turtles. Is there anything else you want? Say it all now so we can plan accordingly. After thinking for a moment, Bai Shanbao said, I need to think carefully about this. Go think about it then, and tell me once youve decided. Ms. Liu couldnt go forward with buying the land and building the house herself; that had to be discussed with Old Master Bai. Bai Shanbao didnt worry about these matters. After reviewing his days lessons, he started to draw a sketch of his imagined house. However, at the moment he was what one would call an artistic soulexcept for himself, nobody else was likely to understand what he had drawn. But Shanbao didnt know that, and the next day, he eagerly showed his masterpiece to Manbao, telling her it would be his new home. Manbao looked at it up and down for a long time, scratching her head and asking, Which side is the front? Shanbao positioned the drawing correctly and explained, This way, look, this is my room. I want to put a swing here so I can go swinging as soon as I wake up; this is where well dig a pond to raise turtles. Then, I can swing and watch the turtles at the same time. Look, this is a turtle. Manbao, who had never seen a turtle, asked, Can you eat it? Yes, turtles live for a very long time. I plan to fatten it up and make soup for my grandmother so she can live a hundred years too. Manbaos eyes brightened, Really? Shanbao nodded, Of course, back in my old home, everyone said that turtles represent longevity. How many do you have? Can you sell me one? I want to raise a turtle, too. Shanbao asked, What do you want a turtle for? For my mother to eat. Shes always sick. If she eats the turtle, shell live a hundred years, and then she wont be sick all the time. Bai Shanbao felt that turtles were hard to come by, or he wouldnt have fought with his cousin over that one turtle. However, having just become friends with Manbao, he was reluctant to refuse her, hesitated a moment, and then said, Ill ask my mother to buy an extra one. If we can get one, Ill give it to you. If not, then when my turtle has babies, Ill give one to you to raise. Manbao thought that didnt sound right, There need to be two turtles to have babies, a male and a female. Who says so? Chickens and pigs are like that, people too, Manbao might have been young, but she knew a lot, listing examples, Only the eggs laid with the rooster can hatch chicks, my mother says. In spring, Dazhus nephew brought in a boar from the next village to mate with their sow. And people also need to get married to have babies. Therefore, You need to buy two turtles, one male and one female. Then they can have babies. One per year, and in ten years, thatd be ten. Then we can eat the two grown ones, keep the rest, and let them have more babies... Manbao counted and was shocked herself, Wow, then wed have lots of turtles. Bai Shanbao felt she made sense, so he decided to talk to his mother about it that evening. Seeing he was willing to take her advice, Manbao got even more excited, pointing at his blueprint, Besides turtles, you can even grow lotus roots in the pond. Do you know what lotus roots are? There are plenty by the river downstream from our village. The flowers are beautiful in summer, the lotus seeds are delicious, and so are the roots. Excitedly, Manbao proposed, Let me take you to dig for lotus roots. I went last year and already know how to do it. Bai Shanbao asked, Werent we going to catch caterpillars today? Manbao casually replied, We can catch them later. Lets go dig for roots first. Lotus roots are much prettier than bugs. Not particularly eager to catch bugs himself, Bai Shanbao nodded in agreement. Chapter 57 - 57 46 Face to Face ?57: Chapter 46: Face to Face 57: Chapter 46: Face to Face Once the school dismissal bell rang, the children stood up respectfully to say goodbye to Mr. Zhuang. After he waved his hand, everyone burst out the door with a joyous shout. Manbao, of course, was not to be left behind and, clutching her books, dashed outside. Shanbao was even quicker and ran straight into Datou, who had come to pick up Manbao. Ms. Liu learned yesterday that after school, the children from each family would make their way home on their own, and the Bai Familys residence wasnt very far from the school either. Knowing that Shanbao needed to quickly integrate into the school, she could not be treated as an exception, which is why they all agreed that today they were not going to pick him up. Shanbao was only too happy to oblige and had also mentioned that hed go play with his classmates. So, at this moment, Ms. Liu didnt send anyone to fetch him but had sent a servant to watch over the riverbank. If Bai Shanbao went to the river to play, they were to capture him and bring him back. When Manbao saw that she still needed to be picked up, Shanbao was very smug and teased that she was still a babied child. Manbao retorted, Youre the one still babied, not me. I stopped nursing at eight months, hmph, Datou is just here to help me carry my books. Exactly, I am here to carry the young mistresss books. While saying this, Manbao also decided that that evening she would tell her mother she no longer needed to be picked up from school. Feeling belittled, Manbao instructed Datou with as much authority as she could muster, We are going to dig for lotus roots, Datou, lead the way! Datou felt that his young mistress was, after all, still a child with all sorts of whims. Wanting to dig for lotus roots at her small size C was she planning to dig them out or bury herself? But then, taking another look at Bai Shanbao beside her and not wanting to lose face in front of Manbaos classmate, he quickly suggested, Young mistress, lets take the books back home first. We also need to get a hoe. Manbaos head, previously held high, paused mid-motion. She scratched her head and, trying hard to recall, asked, Do you need a hoe to dig for lotus roots? Datou affirmed with conviction, Of course, lotus roots are buried in the mud. Bai Shanbao looked at Manbao with contempt, thinking she was so foolish. Even though he didnt farm, he knew you had to use a hoe to dig things out of the ground. Feeling on par with Manbao and also as an elder to Datou, he waved his hand and said, Alright, then, lets go. Bai Erlang, observing from the side, saw that they were heading in a different direction and scratched his head in bewilderment, What should I do now? With gritted teeth, Bai Erlang decided, Follow them, we arent afraid if its just the three of them; were bigger than they are. The other two friends also felt confident they could beat the trio, so together they advanced, dragging a sack behind them. Datou led them back to the Zhou Familys place, where after putting down the books and checking both front and back of the house, he found that the adults were not around. He knew then that grandma must have gone to the vegetable garden; today the family was harvesting autumn cabbage, which were important events usually overseen by grandma. Manbao and Shanbao were both urging him, as children do, impatient. With no other choice, Datou had to fetch Erya, who was tending to the kitchen fire, and sent her to the fields to find Fourth Uncle and instruct him to go directly to the lotus field by the river. Erya glanced at the cooking rice and ran off. Datou then found a rather thick stick and said, All the hoes have been taken by the adults at home, lets take this stick instead. Manbao and Shanbao wouldnt have any objections, eager as they were to go. So off they went towards the riverbank, following the bank upstream. Beyond the villages edge, a bit further on, there was a river beach. The river had carved out a sizable wetland and curled around before continuing its flow. The children had no idea where the river might lead, only that it was rumored to wind into the mountains. More than once, Manbao wondered about following the river to see where it actually went, but Datou, aware of his young mistresss dangerous ideas, warned her as they walked, You cant follow the river; if you do, youll never see us again; and dont get too close to the water. If you fall in, my hands are too short to grab you. Whether Manbao was listening or not, she simply nodded her head. When they reached their destination, Shanbao looked around and saw plenty of tall wild grasses and scattered withered lotus leaves on the river beach. What was called a river beach here actually had hard soil clumps near the spot where they stood, as it had rained the day before, and there were many small pits filled with clear water, through which the pits bottoms were visible. Curiosity got the better of Bai Shanbao as he squatted down to look and even measured the depth of a pit with his hand. Datou merely glanced at it and said, It must be the village chiefs cow that came here to graze. He lamented, The grass here is green, tall, and must be delicious. Bai Shanbao asked curiously, Have you eaten it? Datou thought him foolish, Grass is for cows, have you eaten it? Then how do you know its delicious? Datou was at a loss for words. Shanbao and Manbao were both drawn to the various puddles on the ground, temporarily forgetting about digging for lotus roots. Datou, of course, wouldnt remind them, letting them play there instead. Since the river water had receded, leaving a large expanse of dry land, no matter how they fell, as long as they didnt run towards it, they were not going to fall into the river. The two friends, not having seen much of the world, ran through the tall reeds, shouting in surprise when they saw small fish darting around in the puddles. The servant from the Bai Family, sent by Ms. Liu to keep an eye on the young master, watched from a distance as the two children squatted on the ground, their heads nearly touching, engrossed in conversation around a small pit, and decided not to approach just yet. After all, they still were a considerable distance from the actual river. Unsure of what the children were discussing, they began to play blind mans buff, but Datou clearly wasnt participating; he simply watched from the side. As a result, the servant saw their young master squatting in the bushes only for Datou to point Manbao in his direction, and then their young master was quickly found. Servant: ...So shameless, but this child isnt bad, not getting involved and watching over them. Hence, the servant decided to forgive them and looked around, finding a higher spot from where he could better observe the situation below. He could only allow them to play for another forty-five minutes; after that, they simply had to go home. And just as the servant shifted his position, allowing his gaze to momentarily drift away from them, Bai Shanbao had already guessed that Datou had tipped off Manbao. He voiced his strong objection, stating that if it continued that way, he wouldnt play anymore. Manbao assured there would be no more cheating, and so the two little friends made up. Because Manbao had cheated, they decided that Shanbao would hide again and Manbao would seek. Aware that the grass was too tall to find someone easily, Manbao knew the value of surprise. She chose a direction at random, plowed into it, and began to call out loudly, I see you, I see you, dont move... Feeling guilty, Shanbao twitched slightly, and Manbao quickly pinpointed his location. Irritated, Shanbao didnt wait for Manbao to reach him before he turned and ran in another direction... There, three other friends crouched, plotting how to ensnare Shanbao in their sack. Before they could finalize their plan, Shanbao was upon them. Bai Erlangs reflexes were quicker than his thought process. Without a second thought, he grabbed the sack and attempted to shove it over Shanbaos head. The two companions: ...Once youve seen the face, whats the point of using a sack? Chapter 58 - 58 47 Mass Brawl ?58: Chapter 47 Mass Brawl 58: Chapter 47 Mass Brawl They said they wouldnt, but they still reached out to help hold Bai Shanbao down. Would Bai Shanbao just stand there waiting to be caught? Of course not. After all, he was used to fighting. As soon as the sack touched his head, he struggled to the side. Instantly pinned down by two people, he began to shout and kick. In the meantime, Manbao had also crawled out from behind the reeds. Seeing Bai Erlang jump up and press Bai Shanbao to the ground, attempting to put the sack over his head, she was shocked. But she was only shocked for a moment before she started calling for Datou from the outside while rushing to push Bai Erlang off. And so, five kids were tangled in a scuffle, pushing and hitting each other. Seeing Bai Erlang persist in trying to pull the sack over Bai Shanbaos head, his buddy couldnt hold back any longer and roared, They all saw us, you idiots! Bai Erlang paused, then flared up, Who are you calling an idiot? The other boy hesitated for a moment but, undaunted, kept pressing down on Manbao and Bai Shanbao while retorting, You, who else? If youre not stupid, who is? Isnt everyone a treasure at home? Although your family are landlords, richer than mine, and often have delicious snacks which make us willing to follow your orders, we are not that stupid. The two of them argued among themselves, causing Bai Erlangs grip on Bai Shanbao to loosen slightly. Coupled with Manbaos relentless kicking at Bai Erlang, Bai Shanbao managed to push people off and scramble up from the ground. Then, he overpowered Bai Erlang, howling as he swung his fists to hit him. The servants on the high ground had noticed the situation below as soon as Bai Shanbao shouted for the first time and immediately ran down in shock. But the path he chose was a bit far from the riverbank, and it took him a while to get there. Before he arrived, Datou had already shown up, first flipping away the person fighting with his little aunt, and then taking her place to fight with the opponent. The two were about the same age and quickly rolled into a scuffle. The others didnt dare to hit Manbao hard, after all, she was a girl and younger. But they had no fear of Duatou, pinching him here and slapping him there, having a great time fighting. Naturally, Manbao was there to support her little buddy and grandnephew. When the servant arrived, six people were embroiled in a brawl. The servant let out a loud yell, quelling everyone before separating the two groups. He then checked on their young master. Bai Shanbaos face and body were covered in mud, and his forehead had been scratched, turning several spots on his face blue. Looking at the others, their conditions werent much better. The servant, holding their young master, felt like crying. He was their only sprout, and Old Mistress Bai had entrusted them to look after the young master. Now, having let him get into such a state, they surely wouldnt get off lightly when they returned. But Bai Shanbao didnt have as many thoughts. Pushing the servant off, he stepped forward and threatened Bai Erlang, Villain, you play dirty with sneak attacks. Dare to issue a challenge and see if I dont break your head. Manbao also found Bai Erlangs ambush too cunning, not just because it was an ambush, but also because he used superior numbers and size to bully. Yet, looking at the disheveled state of their side, she thought this method wasnt bad. Bai Erlang couldnt stand the provocation and immediately rolled up his sleeves, Lets fight, whos afraid of whom? Lets do it now. Come on, Bai Shanbao also rolled up his sleeves, Come on! Manbao was on the side cheering him on, You can do it, hit his face, pinch his arms. Datou looked around and even found him a chunk of mud. The servant, watching this group of children, finally couldnt hold back his tears. He knelt on the ground with a slap and hugged their young masters legs, Young master, please spare me, if Old Mistress and Madam find out you were fighting outside, they will surely skin us alive. Lets go home now, right now. As he spoke, Zhou Silang also arrived, a bit unsteady. Despite hearing voices among the reeds, from the outside, he really couldnt see where the people were. Mostly because the servant was kneeling. So he called out, Manbao, Datou, where did you run off to? Hurry up and come out! Thus, Zhou Silang and the Bai Familys servant led a group of bedraggled children back, and upon entering the village, it was just the time when families were returning to have their evening meal. Seeing the six kids resembling mud monkeys, no one paid much attention. Its normal for country kids to get into scrapes like this. But when they recognized the Zhou Familys little lady leading the way, they were surprised, Hey, Manbao, you got into a fight too? They then looked at Zhou Silang, Silang, is it you who hit your younger sister? Zhou Silang scowled, Would I dare? Indeed, who would dare lay a hand on the Zhou Familys treasure without having eaten the courage of a bear or a leopard. The villagers eagerly gathered around Manbao, with some even inquiring, Manbao, did you win or lose this fight? Manbao wasnt stupid, of course, she understood the implied mockery and snorted, Of course I won. If not, bring out your grandson, Ill fight him in front of you. The other party laughed, What a feisty girl. How can she fight like this? Im disciplining my grandnephew, she retorted. The other party, taken aback, suddenly remembered that he and Zhou Dalang were peers; thus, his grandson was indeed her grandnephew. He didnt dare provoke her further, fearing that Manbao would corner his grandson to beat him up. The Zhou Familys precious one had always been clean and well-looked after, seldom appearing ragged. It was remembered that a couple of years ago, when Manbao had just learned to walk and was playing under the big tree at the edge of the village with Datou and the others, because she had a candy in her pocket, two village children fought over her candy and pushed her, causing her to fall into a puddle. One of those kids was even the grandson of the village chief. However, once the incident occurred, Zhou Silang firmly took a group of brothers and nephews to corner the two children and gave them a good lesson. The village chiefs daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law did not make a peep about it, and the village chief even brought a lot of eggs to visit Manbao. It was said that she was so frightened and delighted by the incident that she came down with a high fever. Back then, the families of the two children were terrified, worried that if Manbaos fever led to something worse, it would be calamitous. It was from that time that the adults began to admonish their children that they could fight with Datou and the like, but not to trouble Zhou Manbao. As a child, she had nearly not survived, her constitution already weaker than other childrens. Who knew if a fright might lead to serious issues? Seeing Zhou Manbao looking like this now, the villagers didnt say much, but they were quite worried for her and for all the children involved in the fight. Zhou Silang glared fiercely at Zhou ErLang and the others, then carried their familys youngest home to bathe and apply medicine. Of course, the servant took the rest back to the Bai Manor. Inside the Bai Residence, the family heads were once again stirred up. Ms. Zheng, seeing the bruises on her sons face, swayed and hugged him, bursting into tears. Ms. Liu also wavered, but she managed to keep her composure, scolding her daughter-in-law while instructing her to take the child away. She then turned to Old Master Bai and said, Your sister-in-law is ignorant despite her long hair. What child doesnt get bumps and scrapes? But inwardly, she was also heartbroken. Chapter 59 - 59 48 Nostalgia ?59: Chapter 48: Nostalgia 59: Chapter 48: Nostalgia Old Master Bai also felt pain for Bai Erlang, initially thinking that his two sons had been beaten by someone again. While ordering servants to take him away for a bath and a body inspection, he inquired about the incident from the servant who had brought the child back. The other two classmates who had returned with Bai Erlang were also taken away to bathe and change clothes. The servant knelt on the ground, with his head bowed, and relayed everything he had witnessed in full detail. Old Master Bais face grew colder and more livid by the minute, leaving both the arriving Mrs. Bai and Mrs. Bai at a loss for how to face Ms. Liu. Fortunately, Ms. Liu kept her composure. She turned to console Old Master Bai and his mother, saying, What child doesnt act up? The two of them are close in age; this is all normal. What was normal about that? If it had been just a typical fight or quarrel, that would have been one thing, but this child was trying to put him in a sack! Old Master Bai was fuming and stormed off to his second sons courtyard. Mrs. Bai, seeing him in such a state, was terrified and hastily supported the old lady. The old lady, too, could no longer comfort Ms. Liu and hurried after her son while calling out from behind, Just a light pat or two will do; dont beat the child into a bad state... Ms. Liu rushed after them without hesitation, overtaking the old lady while shouting, Bai Li, if you harm the child, we wont be able to face staying here! Old Master Bai, who had been smacking his sons bottom, stopped abruptly. He threw the crying and screaming child to the ground and pointed angrily, You cry! If you dont cry yourself to death today, itll be your father who dies of anger! Ms. Liu quickly grabbed a quilt from the bed to wrap the child, who had been dragged out by Old Master Bai while bathing, which made the handprints on his bottom all the more apparent and likely the most severe of his injuries. Ms. Liu held the sobbing Bai Erlang and cried, scolding Old Master Bai, At seven or eight years old, children can be as disliked as cats and dogs; werent you mischievous at that age? Did your mother and I beat you like this? A child should be taught properly. With the way you beat him, any good child could be ruined by you! Let him be beaten! the old lady finally arrived with the support of her daughter-in-law, gasping for air as she leaned on the door frame and angrily said, Let him be beaten! If the child dies, thats the end of it, and he can live in this manor by himself. Sister-in-law, Ill leave with you; we wont stay here to bother his eyes. Ms. Liu scolded in anger, My sister, if he doesnt know how to teach the child, then teach him. Whats the point of getting so angry with him? Ms. Liu checked Bai Erlang and saw that his bottom was swollen but the problem wasnt serious. She was more concerned that the fright might cause a high fever at night, which could be life-threatening. She then instructed Mrs. Bai, Stop crying already. Your mother-in-law is old; you should take charge. Go and find some clothes for the child, get him changed, and then prepare a calming herbal soup. Dont let the fright affect him. The old lady, having raised two children, knew this all too well and quickly had her daughter-in-law follow Ms. Lius orders. Not only at their end, but Bai Shanbao and the other two children were also given calming herbal soup before being considerately sent back home. The once chaotic Bai Manor finally quietened down. Ms. Liu, exhausted, then said to Old Master Bai, We also need to send an apology to the Zhou Family; I heard their young miss was also seriously injured. Old Master Bai nodded repeatedly and turned to instruct the steward. The two children were brought together; Bai Erlang, having just been beaten, still had red around his eyes, while Bai Shanbao knew he had been beaten and pretended to be behaving, looking down, but his gaze kept stealing glances at the other and snickered when the adults werent looking. Bai Erlang, seething with anger, glared back at him when the adults werent paying attention. But how could the adults never pay attention? Seeing that the two children still hadnt learned to get along with love and friendship, all the adults fell into a silence. Ms. Liu thought that she needed to speed up the construction of her house and preferably move out before the new year. With distance, maybe affection would grow, and possibly, the relationship between the two children would no longer be so strained. The old lady also sighed and waited until Ms. Liu and her daughter-in-law had taken Bai Shanbao to rest before saying to her son, You and Qier used to get along so well, like brothers closer than blood relatives. How come it has come to this with this generation, where they cant get along at all like fighting cocks? When Dalang comes back, let him spend some time with Shanbao. Mrs. Bai couldnt help saying, Dalang is so much older than Shanbao. The two children wont quarrel, but hes also not suited to stay in the school any longer, isnt that so? Didnt you say you wanted to find a way to get the child into the County School? He has to pass the examination to get in. Mr. Zhuang is from the Prefectural School; I was hoping Mr. Zhuang could give some guidance to Dalang, Old Master Bai retorted. Mrs. Bai did not quite understand why her mother-in-law and husband were so insistent on the children in the family befriending Bai Shan. Seeing her daughter-in-law with downcast eyes and silent, the old lady guessed her thoughts. In fact, ever since Ms. Liu and her daughter-in-law moved in with Bai Shan, her daughter-in-law was not very happy. The old lady sighed and said to Old Master Bai, Your uncle passed away, leaving your aunt and their son with no support. Theyve been bullied by the clan, and now theyve nobody to rely on but you. Our families naturally have a different bond, The old lady didnt speak these words solely for Old Master Bais ears but also for Mrs. Bai, When your father entered the clan school, he was just a country bumpkin. Despite being from the Bai Family, his direct lineage had long become distant. If it hadnt been for your grandfathers competence in managing the family business well and donating substantial amounts to the school, your father wouldnt have been able to study in Longzhou. Patting her grandson on the head, the old lady continued to talk to Old Master Bai, Even so, he was often bullied. It was your Fifth Granduncle who took care of him then. Old Master Bais face flushed as he knelt and said, Mother, rest assured, I will definitely take good care of my aunt and raise Shanbao as if he were my own son. The old lady pulled him up, saying, Thats not what I mean. Then what do you mean? The old lady, still looking at him, said, You know the bond between our two families, but the children might not. If you dont speak up, theyll think your aunts family is just here to take advantage. Finally, the old lady turned to Mrs. Bai and her grandson, explaining, Back then, your grandfather was close to Fifth Granduncle; its just unfortunate that your grandfather wasnt as good at studies as your Fifth Granduncle. He ended up becoming just a county magistrate and had a foul temper to boot. After being scolded by a superior, he quit his post and returned to farming. Mrs. Bai: ...She knew about this too; people in the county city still called her grandfather a man of character. Chapter 60 - 60 49 Apology ?60: Chapter 49: Apology 60: Chapter 49: Apology Indeed, your Fifth Granduncle was excellent at his scholarly pursuits, and even in his capacity as an official, he was impressive. At such a young age, he went to the capital and became an Imperial Censor. Its a pity that he was injured by a stray arrow during the late Emperors eastern campaign and sacrificed his life. As for your Old Zhou and Qiers generation, theres even less need to talk about it. Ask your Old Zhou what his studies amounted to? Old Master Bai, with a sense of shame, lowered his head. But Bai Qi was indeed a promising student. At just a young age, he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi. If it wasnt for his ill fate, it would now be we who might be seeking favor with their family, Mrs. Bai said. Dont look at Shanbaos young age now, but he has already shown his difference. How old is he this year? He has already memorized The Analects in its entirety. Ask your son, does he know how to recite the first chapter of The Analects? Bai Erlang immediately shrank his head and said nothing. Mrs. Bai continued, Even if we dont consider these losses and gains, just thinking about affection, she grasped Old Master Bais hand, tears falling, shes not only your aunt by marriage, but also your blood aunt. She and I, as cousins, grew up together, under the same grandparents. Now, among the brothers and sisters still living, it is only us few. You should think of it as taking care of your maternal family as well, giving her and her grandchildren your wholehearted devotion. These words, though spoken to Old Master Bai, were clearly directed at Mrs. Bai. Mrs. Bai hurriedly knelt down to admit her fault, saying, Mother, rest assured, from now on, my husband and I will definitely take good care of Aunt and our younger siblings. She then turned her head and scolded Bai Erlang, Erlang, from now on, you are not allowed to bully your cousin anymore. If I hear about you bullying him again, I, I... Mrs. Bai clenched her teeth, I will surely beat you. Bai Erlang pursed his lips, and under his fathers stern gaze, did not dare cry, feeling that his bottom was very sore. After the family of four cleared the air, they wiped away their tears and returned to their respective rooms. It so happened that the steward who went to the Zhou family to deliver the compensatory gifts had returned. He reported to Old Master Bai, ...we sent a bottle of medicinal wine specially for treating sprains and injuries, two pieces of meat, two fish, and two packets of pastries. Old Zhou was very easy to talk with and kept saying the child is fine, only a bit bruised here and there, and a little rest should be all thats needed. Old Master Bai then scolded his disappointing son once more before saying, Shes a girl, as long as there are no scars left on her body, its fine. The steward then bowed his head and said, That should not happen. I glanced at the Zhou familys young mistress, the injury on her body is not visible, but her forehead is just a bit swollen, no wounds. Old Master Bai then waved his hand to dismiss him. Meanwhile, at the Zhou family, Manbao and the other children were crouching in the courtyard, observing the two pieces of meat, two fish, and two packets of pastries they had received, with everyone unable to help but swallow their saliva. Datou and the others were incredibly envious, The little auntie is really different, she even gets meat and fish sent to her for fighting. Daya emphasized, And pastries too! Manbao touched her forehead and said, Otherwise, should we find a chance to pick another fight with Bai Er? Old Zhou, overhearing this, almost couldnt resist smacking his daughter on the head, but then remembered that she was injured and hitting her head could possibly make her dumber, so he settled for a verbal reprimand, Dont talk nonsense, is fighting fun for you? Not to mention youre smaller than the other party and you could only be beaten. Such a thing youve instigated, yet you still want people to send gifts? Where is such good fortune? Old Zhou said, If the Bai family asks us to send a compensatory gift in return, our family couldnt afford to give two pieces of meat and two fish like that. Manbao felt regretful for a moment, then looking at the pastries, her mouth watered. She immediately threw herself into her eldest sister-in-laws arms, acting spoiled, Eldest sister-in-law, lets open up the pastries and eat them. Although she wasnt too fond of sweets, she did enjoy pastries. She had just smelled them, and they were so fragrant. Junior Ms. Qian did not hesitate, asking for her mother-in-laws opinion. After Ms. Qian nodded in agreement, she opened one packet, giving two pieces to Manbao first before handing out one piece to each of the other children, and then wrapped up the rest intending to gradually give them to Manbao. But Manbao, with a twinkle in her eye, pushed the two pieces of pastry into the hands of her mother and father, then looked at her sister-in-law eagerly. With no other choice, Junior Ms. Qian handed her another two pieces. Grinning, Manbao repeated the process, giving the pastries to her two sisters-in-law, and then continued to eye Junior Ms. Qian. Seeing that both of her co-sisters-in-law had received some, an annoyed Junior Ms. Qian unfolded the oil paper and stuffed the remaining two pieces to Manbao, There, no more left! Manbao then brought a piece to Junior Ms. Qians lips, her voice sweet, Eldest sister-in-law, have some too, I just smelled it, and it seems really tasty. Junior Ms. Qians irritation vanished immediately, and she couldnt help but laugh, Youre so clever. Ms. He, without consuming her own piece of pastry, laughed from the side, Manbao is different when it comes to her sister-in-law; our pastry didnt make it to our lips. Ms. Feng joined in humorously, After all, she was raised on our eldest sister-in-laws milk. Junior Ms. Qian was somewhat proud but remained modest in her response, This child treats everyone in the family the same. Her sweet words are as if coated with honey; none of the other children combined can compare to her. Thus stood the three sisters-in-law, mutually praising each other while Ms. Qian, seated to the side, instructed, Cut up the meat and stir-fry it. Our home has no well, so we cannot keep it raw. Only when its fully cooked can it be preserved for a longer period. She continued, Although dinner has already been made, take some of it out to stir-fry with vegetables. Manbao has been injured and needs to be nourished. The three daughters-in-law did not dare linger any longer to chat, promptly agreeing and each going to their tasks. Instead of eating the pastries, they casually passed them to their husbands to enjoy. Of course, Zhou Dalang and the others were not foolish enough to eat them right away, and instead, they kept them in their rooms to share again with their little families at night. Ms. Qian also called her daughter to her side, offering her the pastries with a smile, and gently touched the injury on her forehead, Eat quickly, the faster you eat, the quicker your injury will heal. Manbao pushed the pastries back, Mother, you eat. Ms. Qian shook her head, Im taking medicine now, and its not good to eat pastries. You eat, go on. Manbao didnt question this, for she knew her mother had dietary restrictions and couldnt eat many things. Delighted, Manbao took a bite of the pastry and cheerfully went off to play with Zhou Wulang and the others. Old Zhou, sitting nearby, broke off a large chunk of his pastry and gave it to his wife. Ms. Qian smiled and this time, did not refuse. Manbao was particularly interested in the days happenings in the county town and eagerly asked about it. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang, feeling that they had witnessed the wide world today, relished being the center of attention among their brothers and nephews, feeling a surge of pride as they vividly recounted the days events. Ever since there were incidents of adults being kidnapped in their region, all the villages had agreed upon certain rules for going into town. For those from the same village, needless to say, the village was only so large. If someone planned to go to the county town the next day, they would shout out, and anyone else interested would agree to meet by the village entrance at an appointed time. If no one else was going, then theyd proceed on their own. Even the time they set off had its own customs. Zhou Wulang said, The best time to reach the county town is in the early morning. Since everyones pace is more or less the same, people work backward from the county town in their timing. So everyone from the various villages who wants to join up knows when to wait at the village entrance. Chapter 61 - 61 50 Temptation (Additional updates for 20,000 recommended votes from Yunqi) ?61: Chapter 50: Temptation (Additional updates for 20,000 recommended votes from Yunqi) 61: Chapter 50: Temptation (Additional updates for 20,000 recommended votes from Yunqi) Zhou Wulang said, Take our village, for instance. From here to the county town, there are four villages along the way. It usually takes two hours to walk there, so we must set out by dawn at the latest. Well reach the next village around dawn plus two quarters. If we arrive early, we must wait at their village entrance until dawn plus two quarters. Before leaving, we shout to see if anyone responds. If no one does, it means no one else is coming with us, and we can leave. The kids listened very attentively. Manbao, raising her little hand, asked, Then why didnt we wait for others the last time we went? At that time, there were many of us going from our family, so we didnt need to purposely wait for others. When Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang, two adults, and Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang, who were also young lads, along with Daya and Erya, who were nearly grown-ups too, went C who would dare to mess with them? But if youre alone or there are just two or three people traveling, its more convenient to join others. Continuing with this practice, theres a brief stop at each village entrance. Moreover, villagers from the other villages also tend to wait at the junction beforehand. After all, just for todays trip, Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang got to see how villagers coordinate with each other. He excitedly told Manbao, Liulang and I think we could go to the county market every day. Thrilled, Manbao ran back to her room, fetched a bag of sugar from Keke, poured it onto some oiled paper, rolled it up loosely, and handed it solemnly to Zhou Wulang, saying, Fifth Brother, I entrust our great money-making plan to you. Zhou Wulang secretly opened the wrapped sugar, barely concealing his excitement, and held the oiled paper with both hands, saying, Little sister, rest assured. Because the children, including Zhou Silang and Zhou Liulang, surrounded the two, the adults could only hear their conversation but not see their hand movements, let alone what they were holding. Old Zhou thought that Wulang and Liulang were old enough to consider their futures and marriages, so he was willing to give them some leeway. He let them venture out, reasoning that even if they werent successful, just gaining a bit of experience was worth it, especially since it didnt cost any money. Datou and the rest knew that they would also share in this business venture; any money earned by Fifth Uncle and the others was also their own, so they too were full of fighting spirit. Only Zhou Silang seemed endlessly despondent, as he could only watch everything from the side. He couldnt even join in the discussions, not to mention getting his hands on it. Knowing they shouldnt let their parents find out about the sugar, Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang covered for each other and took the item back to their room to hide. Once secured, they excitedly resumed planning their money-making scheme. Manbao kept coming up with ideas, one after the other. Regardless of their practicality, shed throw them out for discussion. The system couldnt help but interject in her mind: Host, your mall has opened. Manbao nonchalantly Hmm-ed in response and continued discussing tomorrows basket selling with Zhou Wulang and the others. The system fell silent for a moment before suddenly projecting an image in her mind of a transparent bottle filled with green liquid. Manbao found it quite pretty and finally paid attention. She asked excitedly, Keke, what is this? The system said, It appears to be a medicine that can treat your mothers illnessone dose should do. Manbaos eyes widened, and she forgot about conversing with her brothers, exclaiming immediately, I want to buy it, I want to buy it, Keke, hurry up and purchase it. The system replied, You dont have the money. Manbao paused, hurried to check the price of the item, and found a string of zeroes. She felt terribly disappointed and almost slumped in defeat. But the system encouraged her: Although the required points are high and seem far off, Host, if you work hard, there is a great chance youll succeed in purchasing it. This is a recently added medicine to the store, and as far as I understand, it will be available for a long time. Manbao brightened up a bit, So youre saying, as long as I can afford it, I can buy it at any time? Right! Manbao felt somewhat happier, Keke, tell me, how do I earn points? Get your brothers to help. Do you remember the privet we saw in the county town? Ask them to bring a few branches back. I estimate that by entering the privet, we could gain dozens of points. Little by little, well eventually succeed. The system persuasively added, Imagine if you could enter a new species each day thats never been entered before. Thats at least fifty points daily, and if its an extinct species, you might get hundreds or even thousands of points. There are 365 days in a year. If you keep it up for a year, just think of how many points youll have? Manbao counted on her fingers, A hundred days gives five thousand points, three hundred days gives fifteen thousand points... Her eyes popped with realization, then she began to giggle, her little body trembling, leaving everyone around her anxious. Zhou Wulang carefully reached out to poke her. Manbao grabbed his finger, her eyes sparkling as she said, Fifth Brother, you have to promise me something. If you agree, Ill buy you a bag of sugar every day. Zhou Wulangs heart fluttered and he asked, What is it you want? Help me dig up plants and flowers. Everyone, including Zhou Wulang, breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, Sure, whatever you want, just tell Fifth Brother. Even if it means climbing mountains or leaping into seas of fire, Ill dig them up for you. Temporarily no need to climb mountains. Just head to that mountain we passed on our way to the county town the other day. Remember where we took a break? Manbao described the appearance and fruits of the privet, Fifth Brother, tomorrow when you return home, help me break off two branches, with the fruits intact. Is that all? Zhou Wulang asked. Not just that. Ill let you know when I think of new things for you to find. Zhou Wulang felt that gathering these plants and flowers was totally doable and pledged confidently, No problem. But, little sister, why do you need those branches? Ive told you, those fruits are not edible. Its a medicinal herb. I have my uses for it. A medicinal herb? Zhou Wulang scratched his head, confused, but he nodded in agreement anyway. Junior Ms. Qian and the others had prepared the evening meal again and brought it out to the table. Old Zhou knocked on the table, urging the children gathered in the yard to come and eat. You said you wanted to learn to read, but all Ive heard this afternoon is chatter. Manbao and the others then remembered they hadnt practiced writing at all that day. Manbao couldnt help but look up and exclaim, Im really too busy! Yeah, and you still need to heal, Ms. Qian said, noticing Manbaos darkening forehead. Youre not allowed to fight anymore. What if you crack your head and become dull-headed? That will never happen; I will never become stupid! Manbao declared with confidence. After all, she still had Keke in her mind to protect her brain. On this point, Manbao was particularly self-assured. Chapter 62 - 62 51 Historical Debt ?62: Chapter 51 Historical Debt 62: Chapter 51 Historical Debt The next day, the school had five more kids with green noses and swollen faces, and the students all curiously gathered around to watch. Its not surprising that they found it odd; Mr. Zhuangs management was always strict, and the most serious conflict in the school usually was just verbal spats. The last fight happened outside the school, and it was mainly caused by two outsidersBai Shan and Second Son. This time was quite different, though. Some students asked Bai Erlang, while others quietly asked Manbao, Did you guys get into a fight? Manbao didnt see anything shameful about it and nodded, We did. However, she also knew fighting was bad, and she knew it was best to be the first to report it. So she said, They started it first, and even set an ambush! That prompted a classmate to ask curiously, Why did you guys fight? Manbao paused, touched her head, and wonderedyeah, why did they fight? So she turned around, dragging Bai Shan with her to find Bai Erlang, and asked, Why did you hit us? Bai Erlang had been beaten and scolded the night before, and his face couldnt look sourer. But after being re-educated by his grandma, dad, and mom, he realized he could no longer fight with Bai Shan in the future. Otherwise, he would definitely face backlash and punishment from his grandma, his dad, and even his mom. So, when he heard Manbaos question, his face turned even sourer. He said, Whats it to you? I was only targeting him. You deserved it for getting involved. Manbao looked at him, then at Bai Shan, and gave Bai Erlang a snort. She had a recent grudge with Bai Shan, but that had already been resolved. More importantly, after what they went through together yesterday, she felt their relationship had gone from just deskmates to good friends. So facing Bai Erlang, with whom she had had a long-standing feud, Manbao unhesitatingly took Bai Shans side and pulled him aside to quietly offer some advice, When is your family going to build the house? I can get my big brother and second brother to help out. She said, Bai Erlang is a meanie, and if you live with his family, you might be bullied without anyone noticing. Plus, as a guest, its not good to fight with the hosts. Itll be better once you move out. If he bullies you then, Ill have my great-nephew help you fight back. And she added, If my great-nephew cant beat him, Ive still got Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother. Let me tell you, my Sixth Brother is awesome at fightingno kid in the whole village can beat him. Bai Shan also no longer wanted to live at his uncles house, feeling it was very inconvenient, so he whispered to Manbao, My grandma is choosing a location. I heard from my mom that if things move quickly, we might be able to move out before the New Year. Bai Shan had never seen a house being built and thought moving before the New Year was quite soon, but not Manbao. She exclaimed, That long, huh? Tell your grandma to hurry and choose a place. Ill talk to my dad about it. When the time comes, Ill get my big brother and them all to help. I have six brothers, after all. Just call some more people from the village, and we can build your house in three to five days. That fast? Not fast, not fast, Manbao said, Last time the village chief needed to build a house for Sanzhu to get married, my big brother and the others pitched in, and they got it built in just two days. Obviously, Manbao had no idea that not all houses were the same. Nor did Bai Shan, who was eagerly waiting for school to end. He collected the homework he was punished with from Mr. Zhuang and hurried home. Mr. Zhuang wasnt blind; seeing five students turn up with bruised and swollen faces, he immediately knew they had been fighting. After inquiring, he learned it was a private brawl, so he issued another round of punishments. Bai Erlang and the other two boys received their punishments with bitter faces, but Manbao and Bai Shan were unusually excited because both children felt that studying involved writing anyway. What kind of punishment was this? The two of them went home happily. Manbao was particularly diligent today. First, she organized Datou, Daya, and the others, teaching them a few characters and reciting four lines of the Thousand Character Classic. Then she stood by idly. She checked the marketplace again and saw that green liquid, asking longingly, Keke, cant you just give it to me on credit? The system, feeling helpless, said, Host, I can only connect to the marketplace. Transactions are completed through a third party. If I had that many points, I could buy it and lend it to you on credit. Then you could pay me back with points later. But the problem now is that I dont have that many points either. The system didnt mind letting Manbao see its own points because there werent many to begin with. It had encountered a space storm during deployment, and that was how it accidentally ended up here. After contacting the main system, the main system told it that the space channel to this region hadnt been opened and would cost a substantial number of points to do so. Logically, these points should have been paid by the host. But at that time, where would its host get points? Without points, the channel wouldnt open, and the things it collected couldnt be returned to the encyclopedia. Therefore, the system couldnt determine the points it and the host should receive. This nearly turned into a vicious cycle. The most frightening aspect was that because the channel couldnt open, and it had already spent a lot of energy preserving itself in the storm, it was no longer able to return on its own. So Keke had no choice but to spend its own points to open the channel, then parceled itself into the highest IQ person it detected nearby. At the time, it was so confused that it didnt even get a good look at Manbao. It just focused on her soulhow was it to know she was a child? But a child was still a child, and at least it was a legitimate match. The channel was opened, and even if Manbao couldnt pay back the cost of the channel, the system would eventually be reclaimed upon her death and not be lost wandering through space. For intelligent systems like itself, if they cant generate revenue for the interstellar community, they will definitely be disconnected from the main system. Once disconnected, thats almost as good as being dead. So, really, it didnt have points to help Manbao. The points it had recently scrounged up to tempt Manbao with sugar were squeezed out of every nook and cranny, but of course, Manbao had just paid those back not long ago. She also celebrated moving from having negative assets to positive ones. Just like Manbao, Keke had great confidence in her. Because in a short period of time, she not only achieved positive asset growth but also successfully opened the marketplace. What did that mean? It meant that her host had significant potential for growth. The current predicament was only because her host was still too young. It would be better when she grew up a little more. As for Manbaos personality, Keke, who had grown up with her, considered itself to understand her best. She was the type who would dig in her heels when pushed and step back when persuaded. But she had one merit: if there was a profit to be made, she would go for it. That profit had to be something she liked, something delicious, fun, beneficial for her family, or something her family really needed urgently. Keke thought it might dangle that tube of medicine in front of Manbao but realized the required points were too many, seemingly without end in sight. So it said, Manbao, the rooster you bought for your mother has been eaten up. According to the doctor, your mothers underlying issue is anemia, so she needs nutritional supplements. If you can ensure that she eats meat every day, your mothers health should greatly improve, at least until you earn enough points to buy that medicine. Upon hearing this, Manbao started counting out her copper coins from the system, finding that buying a chicken was still possible. So she was about to take the money to find her second brother when the system reminded her, Your family might be reluctant to buy a chicken. Manbao paused, tilted her head to think, then tucked the coins into her pocket and walked out. Chapter 63 - 63 52 Buying Chicken ?63: Chapter 52: Buying Chicken 63: Chapter 52: Buying Chicken Daya, who was diligently practicing her characters, glanced up and asked, Little Aunt, where are you going? Manbao waved her hand and said, You guys continue, Im just going to walk around outside. Daya instinctively wanted to follow, but Manbao glared at her, Keep writing. If you cant remember, youll have to write it a hundred times as punishment. Although not very stern, Daya still subconsciously crouched down on the ground, but she wasnt afraid and instead looked up at her little aunt. Seeing that she was just lingering at the doorway, muttering to herself and not knowing what she was saying, Daya stopped paying attention and lowered her head to continue writing. Manbao was mumbling to herself, Should I go to Brother Hus house at the end of the village, or should I go to the village chiefs house in the center of the village? The system silently watched and did not make the decision for her. In the end, Manbao decided to go to the village chiefs house first. She figured if the village chiefs family didnt want to sell chickens, then she would go to Brother Hus house. Why had she set her sights on these two households to buy chickens? Because aside from her own family, these two had the most chickens in the village. It was the time when everyone was starting to prepare dinner, and practically every household had someone at home. As soon as Manbao appeared in the courtyard, Sanzhus wife saw her. Sanzhus wife curled her lips in displeasure; she really didnt have a good impression of Manbao, especially after the words Manbao said by the river had spread to her family, leading to a scolding from her in-laws. What they didnt expect was that the next day, Manbaos family really went to the county town, and on the third day they indeed brought the money to repay the debt. There were murmurs in the village that their family had pressured Manbaos family to repay the money and that they had taken their grain to the county to exchange for money. These were not kind words, and right then Sanzhus father took the money to Old Zhous house. Although Manbaos father had explained, the two families had cleared things up. Nevertheless, she was still scolded by her mother-in-law, and these past few days, she had been the one to do all the heavy chores like feeding the pigs, while the older and second sisters-in-law had all taken time to relax. Sanzhus wife felt all this was Manbaos fault. Not showing a pleasant face to Manbao, and since Manbao was no fool, she directly passed her and called out loud into the interior of the house, Dazhus wife, Dazhus wife, are you home? Dazhus wife, who was cooking in the kitchen, ran out and looked at Manbao coldly, who was not even as old as her daughter. Manbao smiled at her with a childlike voice yet somehow sounding beyond her years, Dazhus wife, wheres your mother-in-law? Dazhus wife almost laughed at the cuteness of the girl but composed herself and said, Oh, its Little Aunt Manbao. My mother-in-law went to the vegetable garden. What do you need from her, Miss? Nothing particular, I just want to buy a chicken from your family to eat. Dazhus wife was startled, Buy a chicken? Doesnt your family have chickens? Manbao confidently said, Our chickens are still laying eggs; we dont want to eat them. Sanzhus wife couldnt help but interject, Your familys chickens are too precious to eat, but ours arent? Manbao said, Maybe your familys chickens arent laying eggs, so perhaps youd be willing to sell them? She looked at Sanzhus wife curiously and said, If you dont want to sell, just tell me straight. Im not forcing a purchase. You! Sanzhus wife hadnt had the chance to respond when Dazhus wife first eyed Manbao with suspicion, Little Aunt Manbao, did someone from your home ask you to come buy this? Manbao nodded, My mother needs to recuperate, so we need to eat chicken meat. Dazhus wife, does your family have any chickens that arent laying eggs that youre willing to sell? Dazhus wife hesitated to shake her head; she remained dubious, wondering how the Zhou family could send Manbao out to buy a chicken. With brothers and sisters-in-law at home, as well as so many older children, even if someone went to buy a chicken, shouldnt it be one of them? Before she could express this thought aloud, Sanzhus wife preempted her, Oh yes, we have a big rooster. Do you want it? Manbaos eyes brightened, and she nodded eagerly, Yes, yes! Sanzhus wife, please bring the big rooster here for me to see. Ill pay the market price. Sanzhus wife was skeptical, You really want it? Do you have the money? Manbao then pulled out a big handful of copper coins from her pocket, smiling, See, I have money. Sanzhus wifes eyes nearly popped out, and even Dazhus wife was stunned. They both thought the same thing: the Zhou family must be very bold to give so much money to a little child, without fearing that someone might steal it. However, this was in the village, and likely no one would dare to steal. As Manbao had brought money, Sanzhus wifes eyes flickered with calculation, and she turned around to fetch a rooster from the henhouse. Here, this one. We have two roosters, one were keeping for making offerings at New Years, but I can sell this one to you. Itll be at market price, Ill weigh it for you right now. Dazhus wife frowned at this, and Sanzhus wife whispered to her, Older sister, mother wanted older brother to take this rooster to the market to sell for money. But in our rural home, who is willing to spend dozens of copper coins to buy a chicken to eat? If we have to deliver it to the county, it will take so much time back and forth. If you dont want to sell it, later tell the older brother to take it. Im certainly not going to do it myself. Hearing this, Dazhus wife closed her mouth. Yet, she did not let Sanzhus wife have her way. She took the initiative to fetch the scale from inside the house. While weighing the rooster, she said to Manbao, Were all neighbors here, how can we charge the market rate? Well give you a discount of one coin per pound. They quickly weighed the rooster, and Dazhus wife, counting awkwardly, said, Thatll be fifty-three coins in total. Manbao, pleased, counted out the coins from her pocket into Dazhus wifes hand, and when she was short, she reached back into her pockethaving Keke place the money there for hergoing back and forth two or three times until the exact amount of fifty-three coins was counted out. Dazhus wife carefully tied the roosters legs and then bound its wings before letting Manbao carry it away. Seeing her struggle to hold the big rooster, she asked, Do you want me to help you take it back? Manbao shook her head, confidently stating, No problem, I can carry it. Manbao left with the rooster in her arms, but halfway home, she could no longer hold it. Deciding to let it drop to the ground, she found the rope around its wings and dragged it instead. The rooster clucked and made a fuss, desperately flapping its wings and hopping about. But since its legs and wings were tied, it was inevitably dragged all the way back to Manbaos home by Manbao. As Datou, Daya, and the others who had just noticed the little aunts absence and were about to go out in search of her stood with their mouths agape at the sight of the little aunt running towards them, dragging a chicken... Erya was the first to snap out of it and ran up to ask, Little Aunt, where did you get the chicken from? Datou and the others rushed over as well, picking up the pitiful rooster and stroking it sympathetically. Despite their drooling, they said, Little Aunt, its wrong to steal. Zhou Silang and the others also came running out. Manbao became unhappy, stating, Who said I stole it? I bought it! Manbao proudly patted her pocket and declared, With money I bought it! Zhou Wulang, just back from the county town, couldnt help exclaiming, Who did you buy it from? How much did you pay? You werent swindled, were you? The entire Zhou Family was stunned by Manbaos return with a rooster, and after listening to her recount the experience, Old Zhou couldnt help reaching for his waist, feeling nothing but air, and then remembered that he had taken all the tobacco leaves to the county town early that day for Five to sell, while the rest he had stored away, saving them for a smoke during the New Year. Old Zhou then looked towards his wife. Chapter 64 - 64 53 New Discovery ?64: Chapter 53 New Discovery 64: Chapter 53 New Discovery Ms. Qian glanced at the rooster and then at her daughter before turning to Junior Ms. Qian and saying, Since its been bought, just put it in the chicken coop. Manbao scurried up and said, Mom, this is for you to eat. Ms. Qian patted her little head with a smile and said, Theres still fish and meat to eat. Lets eat those first and then this one. Well raise it first. Keep it with our hens and maybe it will lay a few fertile eggs. Then we can hatch the eggs and raise more chickens next year. Raising chickens also consumes a lot of grain, which ordinary families cant afford to do in excess. The three families that raise the most chickens in the village are the village heads family, Zhou Hus family at the end of the village, and their own. Their family found it easier to raise chickens because they had many children and plenty of labor. Even if they were reluctant to part with bran, they could still cut fresh greens to cook for the chickens, not to mention various insects, especially cabbage caterpillars. It was only after the day before yesterday that Manbao realized that their chickens always fed on cabbage caterpillars. Not only did they eat caterpillars, but also many other insects that harmed crops and vegetables. The family would catch them and bring them back for the chickens to eat. She never knew this because she never worked the fields and she also disliked the stinky chicken coop, so she never went near it. Because Keke wanted cabbage caterpillars, Manbao was eager to catch bugs in the fields, and thats when she found out that her family had always been feeding bugs to the chickens. They didnt need her to lift a finger. Datou and the others could bring back more than a dozen after scouting the fields. However, they still felt a sense of regret, There are fewer bugs now. They were everywhere in the early summer. Our chickens especially loved to lay eggs back then. Although Manbao had bought the rooster, Ms. Qian did not intend to kill it for food. Since it had been frightened, Ms. Qian specifically instructed Junior Ms. Qian to give it a handful of grains to make sure it had a good meal and to comfort its little heart. Ms. He couldnt help but mutter, Mom, are we really keeping this chicken? It cost fifty-three wen. Ms. Qian, half-closing her eyes, said indifferently, If we dont keep it, would you have the face to return it? The families of Dazhu and Sanzhu are really shameless. Isnt this tricking our niece? Ive felt it just now, the chicken is well-fed. If they had taken it to the county city, wouldnt it have lost a couple of pounds from hunger? Moreover, entering the city costs money too and it wastes a whole day. In the end, they still charged our niece so much. Ms. Qian said, Thats why you girls need to be more careful these next few days. Raise the chicken well, and use it for ancestral worship during the New Year. That way, we wont be at a loss. Junior Ms. Qian added, Manbao said she wanted to kill it to nourish your health. Ms. Qian laughed off the idea, That child comes up with one idea after another. Shell forget about it in a couple of days. The three daughters-in-law then fell silent. Old Zhou had a different opinion, Manbao is showing filial respect. I dont know whats gotten into her, but recently shes had her eye on that rooster. I think once weve eaten the meat we have, shell start thinking about this chicken. Ms. Qian smiled and said, Dont worry, Ill convince her. Unless she can buy another chicken for me, she shouldnt even think about killing it. Old Zhou couldnt help but laugh, Maybe shell really buy you another one. She had saved up sixty-one wen before, and now shes spent fifty-three. How much money does she still have on her? Thats when Old Zhou fell silent. How much money did Manbao still have on her? Of course, she had quite a bit at least, she thought so. Moreover, today Zhou Wulang and his brothers came back from the county city having made some money. Together with a bunch of friends, they headed to their own room to count their earnings. The adults outside only heard the clamor from inside the room, completely unaware of what they were doing. The family didnt mind their children having good relationships, and as long as the kids didnt fight, they generally didnt intervene. Early that day, Zhou Wulang and Liulang had carried two baskets of small bamboo baskets to the county city, accompanied by Daya, who went especially to sell woven flower baskets. At the same five-wen price per basket, after selling all the flower baskets, Zhou Wulang even made a special trip to the County Governmental Office. He found the Fu Familys side gate and sold all the remaining candies to Second Miss Fu. Because the County Magistrate indeed had started charging an entrance fee, Zhou Wulang and his brothers unceremoniously raised their prices, charging one wen per piece of candy. However, the candies this time were different from the last, so the difference in price was still justifiable. Together, the money from both sales amounted to two hundred and twenty wen. Of course, the accounts were still calculated by Manbao because Zhou Wulang was a little unreliable with numbers. The one who got the same count as Manbao was Zhou SiLang. Looking at the pile of copper coins on the bed, he felt an intense surge of excitement and reached out to touch them, only to have his hand slapped by Zhou Wulang, Fourth Brother, you have no share in this. Zhou SiLang felt heartbroken and protested, I helped too. I chopped bamboo yesterday and I also worked on preparing the bamboo strips. Zhou Wulang thought there may be some sense in what he said and looked at Manbao for guidance. Manbao collected all the money in front of her and said, We have to pay taxes first. Paying taxes meant giving part of the money to their mother. Manbao ordered Datou to fetch her homemade ledger and writing supplies from her room. Then she began to keep accounts, saying, We need to keep track of our earnings so we dont forget how much money weve made. This was something Keke had reminded her about, mainly to give her a rough idea of how much she was earning and spending. She had originally intended to record everything in one place, but Keke said that wasnt how it was done. So, she had to prepare another small ledger for her own accounts. Yet, she hadnt bought any paper. The paper she was using now was given to her by Shanbao, which she had cut into small pieces and stitched together. Manbao sighed repeatedly, feeling she needed to set aside some money for Wulang to buy her paper. While Manbao was accounting and calculating her personal ledger, she confidently told Keke, This way, Ill be able to earn enough for another rooster very soon. The system couldnt help but say, Host, you can actually purchase paper from the mall where the quality is good and the prices are much cheaper than what youd pay in the county city. Manbao uttered a surprised, The mall sells paper too? System: ...The mall has everything. Other hosts become addicted to shopping as soon as they open the mall, so why does its host, aside from buying candies, refuse to buy anything else? It didnt get commissions when the host purchased items, but it still felt anxious watching on. Manbao, at last, discovered the correct way to use the mall. After finishing the accounts, allocating the taxed money, and dividing up the rest, she put her own share into her little pocket. Then she dashed back to her room, hid under the blanket, and began to browse through the malls offerings. With the systems guidance, Manbao finally learned that aside from scrolling down to look through the malls various items, she could also input what she was looking for at the search bar on top. If the mall didnt have the sought-after item, it would make recommendations based on her browsing history. God knows that the first time Manbao opened the mall, because she didnt understand, she just scrolled down, encountering a slew of unfamiliar items. Having seen so many, she lost interest. Later, before sleeping each night, shed check the mall, and the updated items were always unfamiliar. Thats why Manbao lacked interest in the mall. However, recently she had been looking at a tube of green potion which caused all the recommended items to be various medicines, albeit with prices too alarmingly high. Although Manbao was always overly confident, she still found those numbers to be out of reach every time she saw them. Chapter 65 - 65 54 Battle of Wits ?65: Chapter 54: Battle of Wits 65: Chapter 54: Battle of Wits Manbao nodded and began by inputting the plain paper. What came out was a large assortment of various goods, including large sheets of white paper that looked similar to what they had here. There were well-bound notebooks that looked very nice and some that were housed in strange boxes, clearly labeled as printing paper. The most astonishing to Manbao was a colorful portrait that was said to be 8D printing paper, capable of printing anything. It was also the most expensive among the recommended types of paper. Manbao looked them over carefully, very tempted to buy some to see for herself, but just as she was about to make the purchase, Keke couldnt help but flash the potion in her shopping cart to show her. Manbao withdrew her hand immediately. Though Keke wanted Manbao to spend more, it wasnt about spending recklessly. He said, You have printing paper, but without a printer, you cant print anything. It was then that Manbao reluctantly pulled back her finger, but curiously asked, Is it really like it says, that you can make cars and clothes out of paper? Its printing paper, the system educated her. In the future, its possible to print even materials that perform just the same, but, strangely enough, in recent years, humans havent liked this method. They favor things made by hand and from raw materials. The main system didnt prevent the sub-systems from spreading knowledge of the future world to their respective hosts. In fact, this was also a way for the sub-systems to motivate their hosts. However, Manbao just took these stories to heart. Keke was not sharing them to motivate Manbao, but simply because she wanted to listen, and so he spoke. Manbao listened with great interest and concluded, People in the future really dont know how to enjoy life. Why do things yourself when you could have robots do them? Keke deeply agreed, but the complexities involved were many, and he felt Manbaos little brain might not be able to ponder such profound questions, so he didnt continue the discussion. Seeing her gaze continually returning to those good-looking notebooks, Keke reminded her, Host, there are some differences in writing, and these notebooks are clearly not the kind currently made by bookshops. I suggest you buy sheets of plain paper and cut them yourself. Despite this, Manbao couldnt resist and bought a pack of white paper to put in the system, then went to look at those lovely-looking notebooks. She discovered a buy-one-get-one-free page that wasnt expensivejust two points each. Without waiting for Keke to speak, she quickly purchased a notebook with a pink rabbit on the cover and selected another with a cover full of flowers as the freebie. The system silently watched. Once the items were delivered, Manbao first took out the two notebooks to touch them under the quilt. Only then, satisfied, did she put them away in the system. She solemnly told the system, Keke, this way, we dont have to cut anything. I wont take them out, just keep track of my own little accounts. Keke hummed in agreement, acknowledging her action. Seeing her good friend didnt object, Manbao cheered up and went to look at the stack of white paper she had bought. The white paper from the mall was cheaper than sugar, with a thousand sheets for two points and an additional two hundred sheets of a different kind of white paper thrown in. Manbao took them out and saw they were thicker than the ones Mr. Shanbao had given her and also quite large. She scratched her head, thinking it impractical to carry such large sheets to school, so she struggled to spread them on the bed and started folding them. After folding them into several layers, she finally put them in her treasure box. She decided to have Second Brother make her a bamboo basket for carrying books, just like the other students, so she could put all her things inside. No sooner had Manbao come to this conclusion than she scurried off to find her mother. She first counted out one hundred and thirty-two wen and handed it to her, declaring that this represented sixty percent of todays earnings from Fifth Brother, to be contributed to the family pool. Ms. Qian frowned, Who did this calculation? Manbao proudly lifted her chin, I did. Ms. Qian: How did you calculate it? How much did they earn in total? Manbao scratched her head, not understanding what was wrong, and was about to count on her fingers for her mother when Zhou Erlang chuckled from the side, Little sister, even you make mistakes. They took thirty bamboo baskets to the county this morning. Even if all were sold, that only adds up to one hundred and fifty wen. How could sixty percent be one hundred thirty-two wen? Ms. Qian glared at her foolish second son, irked by his excessive talk. Zhou Erlang didnt understand what he had done to upset his mother, and he looked at his eldest brother with confusion. Zhou Dalang was even more naive, utterly clueless. Manbao, meanwhile, jolted back to reality. She took the money back from her mothers hands and said with a serious face, Mother, I miscalculated. Ill go calculate it again. She hugged the money and scurried off to the room shared by Zhou SiLang and the others. To say nothing of Zhou Wulang and the rest, even Zhou SiLang felt a chill run down his back. They all stayed put near the doors and windows, not daring to step out. Ms. Qian watched her daughters disappearing figure and then withdrew her gaze. She glanced at her three bewildered eldest sons, then at the indistinct chatter from the eastern wing and suddenly shook her head with a smile. Forget it, a bunch of foolsno use getting worked up over them. Zhou Dalang, Zhou Erlang, and Zhou Sanlang were unaware that their own mother had ranked them among the fools. They were busy diligently making small bamboo baskets since the floral baskets made by Zhou Wulang and the others had brought in good money; now they did nothing else in the evenings but help to weave bamboo baskets. Having taken the money back, Manbao returned to her room and scribbled calculations on paper. Everyone saw but did not understand, but they all knew another ledger was needed. At the least, earnings from selling candy couldnt be recorded in the same account since that was done behind their parents backs. While Manbao scribbled, she consulted with Keke in her mind, and soon, one system and one person had devised a more reasonable principle for allocation. First off, for every five wen a floral basket earned, they had to put three wen in the public pot, and only then would the two remaining wen be split among them. This group included the three elder brothers who helped them weave bamboo baskets, so after calculating this way, the money they all got to split was much less. But that didnt matterthey also had the income from selling candy. Zhou Wulang and the rest were quite generous, offering to give their elder brothers a bit more. So Manbao planned to allocate half a wen for each small bamboo basket to them. It sounded meager, but the total wasnt insignificant once calculated. With the new policy set, Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang made several admonitions to Datou and the others, telling them they absolutely must keep it secret from their parents; if discovered, their money would surely be confiscatedjust like the money that had been taken from them before. Without a second thought, Datou and the others nodded in agreement. They were also more than happy to leave more money with Manbao for safekeeping, the reason being quite valid, Little auntie, my parents will search our clothes and beds, but yours wont. Even Zhou Wulang hesitated for a moment before entrusting Manbao with his money, Manbao, father wont search your bed, but he will definitely search mine, Fours, and Sixths. Keep this money for me too, and dont forget to keep a record. Manbao readily waved her hand in agreement, but instead of taking the money directly, she asked them to put it in bags and later, she would label them so there wouldnt be any confusion. After all, her money wasnt in the treasure box under the bed; it was with Keke. Even if father wanted to search, he wouldnt find it. Chapter 66 - 66 55 Female Ligustrum Lucidum ?66: Chapter 55: Female Ligustrum Lucidum 66: Chapter 55: Female Ligustrum Lucidum Zhou Liulang followed Fifth Brothers lead and also entrusted his money to Manbao for safekeeping. Zhou Silang considered doing the same, but upon looking at the five coins in his palm, he felt it wasnt necessary and pocketed the money instead. Manbao then consoled him, Silang, once your barren land is able to grow crops, youll be fine. Youll earn a lot of money after the autumn harvest. Zhou Silang, I appreciate it but my father farmed his whole life and I never saw him with a lot of money. As for that small piece of new land, Id be happy just to see it yield anything. Manbao hadnt expected Silang to lack confidence, Silang, the reason Father didnt have money was because he had a wife and children to care for. You dont have either, how could you not make money? She said, If you cant make money, how are you going to repay your debts? You owe quite a bit. Zhou Silang felt a little disheartened. Looking at his little sister, he asked, Cant you help your brother out? Manbao patted her chest and said, Rest assured Silang, I will definitely help you. Datou and the others also enthusiastically added, Fourth Uncle, we will help you too. Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang were also very brotherly and, putting their arms around Zhou Silangs shoulders said, Silang, we will help you too. If we return early tomorrow, well go to the fields to help you clear the land. Manbao thought it over and felt her life outside of school should be more enriching. Most importantly, she intended to find more unfamiliar plants for Keke to earn points. So, she also chimed in, I will go help you tomorrow. Zhou Silang: ...The help I want isnt this kind of help. Still, seeing the sincerity in his siblings and nieces and nephews eyes, Zhou Silang thought to himself, forget it, even if he got involved, he wouldnt be able to divide much money anyway. What was crucial was that Father and Mother would definitely not allow him to tamper with his younger brothers and sisters business. Zhou Silang sighed sadly. Thinking they had agreed, Manbao went to give the recalculated money to her mother, and then handed her own coins to Keke. She felt she needed a bigger pouch too. Thinking so, Manbaos eyes glittered and she entered money pouch into the market search, but what came up was a series of shiny golden circles resembling copper coins. Surprised, Manbao scratched her head and said, What I want is a money pouch. The system glanced at her and suggested, You should input handmade fabric bag instead. Otherwise, even if she typed in bag, what came up would still be all sorts of strange things. Manbao followed Kekes suggestion and entered the search. Everything that came up was exceptionally pretty, dazzling in various colors. Manbao exclaimed in delight, eagerly browsing through them. She liked this one, she liked that one; the most critical point was these items seemed quite large and appeared capable of holding many, many copper coins. Manbao went to check her points, but her smile froze as she stared in shock, Why is it so expensive? It actually costs thirty-eight points, so much more than paper and sugar. In Manbaos view, paper and sugar should have been the more expensive items. The system explained, In the future, materials are abundant, so paper and sugar are not precious. But craftsmanship and labor are expensive, which is why handmade bags are pricey. Manbao looked on, reluctant to purchase. But instead of exiting, she took out a piece of paper and began to draw a bag according to one of the images. She intended to ask Third Sister-in-law to make it for her. It was just fabric, and they had some at home. Manbao, with her drawing in hand, sought out Third Sister-in-law and described to her in detail what the bag looked like. Ms. He automatically disregarded the colorful embroideries Manbao mentioned since she didnt know how to do them. However, making the bag as the young miss described was not a problem. But fabric was a concern. She took the paper and said, Miss, let me discuss it with Granny first, Ill get the money and buy the fabric to make it for you. Manbao nodded happily, You dont need to go talk; Ill speak with Mother about it. Mainly because she was in a rush and couldnt wait for Ms. He to bring it up. Manbao ran off to find Ms. Qian to talk about buying fabric. Ms. Qian, having watched her daughter running about the entire evening, never settling down, laughed and said, Alright, Ill buy it for you, just wait. Turning, she called over Five and gave him five coins, instructing, Tomorrow when you go to the county, drop by the fabric store. Ask if they have any surplus fabric scraps. If they do, buy a few pounds to bring back, remember to pick large, brightly colored pieces. Indeed, Ms. Qian did not plan to buy whole cloth for her daughter, as it was too expensive. She had seen the drawing; to make the pack, it would use up almost as much fabric as making a small jacket for her, which wasnt worth it. Therefore, buying fabric scraps was the better choice. For Zhou Wulang, it was the first time to receive money directly from his mother, and feeling like a grown-up, he was extremely excited. He turned around and began to show off to Manbao. Only then did Manbao realize her mother intended to use leftover scraps to make her bag, and her excitement soared with envy, If only I could go to the county tomorrow, I could pick the scraps myself. For the first time, Manbao felt that going to school had its downsides. Zhou Wulang promised her, Dont worry, Ill definitely pick the prettiest floral fabrics for you. He then took out two strings of purple fruit from his basket and handed them to Manbao, Here, what you wanted. Upon seeing the purple fruit that Keke called ligustrum berries, Manbao was thrilled, Thank you, Fifth Brother! Zhou Wulang, pleased, said, If you like them, Ill pick some more for you tomorrow. But remember, you cant eat these. Manbao agreed and then turned to hand the berries to Keke. The system didnt take them all but left her one string and recorded the other into the system. Manbao found the fruit visually appealing, and being a fruit lover, she couldnt help but salivate at the sight of the accumulated purple berries. The system said, This is medicine. Manbao continued to drool, Is the medicine tasty? The system: ... Manbao wiped her mouth, looking longingly at the string of fruit, If only the medicine my mother takes were like this, she wouldnt find it so bitter. The system informed her, Your mothers medicine contains ligustrum berries. Manbaos eyes widened slightly. After a moment of astonishment, she sprang out of bed and dashed outside, already resisting the urge to sleep with Old Zhou and Ms. Qian hearing the commotion from the adjoining room and unable to help saying, Manbao, you have school tomorrow, settle down. Dragging her little shoes, Manbao rushed over and asked, Mother, wheres your medicine? Whats wrong? I want to see it. By that time, night had fallen, and Manbao insisted on seeing Ms. Qians medicine. No matter how much her parents tried to persuade her, it was futile. They realized she was on the verge of throwing a tantrum on the floor if they didnt comply. Ms. Qian, distressed, waved to her husband, signaling him to fetch the packet of medicine for their daughter to see. Manbao then opened the medicine packet and peered at the contents with widened eyes, completely unable to identify the ligustrum berries within. Keke reportedly didnt recognize them either until it had previously scanned Ms. Qians prescription and knew ligustrum berries were listed as an ingredient. Now that it had cataloged ligustrum berries, using technical analysis, Keke quickly pointed them out to Manbao. The ligustrum berries on the string were plump and round, a vibrant purple color, but those in the medicine were dried, unrecognizable next to fresh ones. Had Keke not insisted these were ligustrum berries, Manbao would have never made the connection. Chapter 67 - 67 56 Petty ?67: Chapter 56 Petty 67: Chapter 56 Petty Manbaos eyes shone brightly, clutching the two vitex seeds she had found without speaking. Old Zhou and Ms. Qian sat by the bed, and in the light of the fire, they saw the brightness in their daughters eyes, shining like Venus in the sky, leaving the couple somewhat dazed and silent. Manbao happily raised her head and stretched out her little hand to show Old Zhou and Ms. Qian, Dad, Mom, look what this is? Ms. Qian slightly returned to her senses and asked with a smile, What is it? Its vitex seeds! Today, Fifth Brother picked two strings for me. They look like this when theyre dried, and can even treat Moms illness. Ms. Qian, smiling, touched Manbaos head and watched as she knelt on the floor, excitedly telling her that from now on, they could buy one less herb when they went shopping for medicines. Ms. Qian listened with a smile and did not tell her that the medicines were prescribed in complete sets, not individually. Manbao said, Let Dalang and Sanlang go and pick all the vitex seeds, dry them and give them to Mom to eat. Ms. Qian nodded with a smile, Alright, Mom will have your big brother go tomorrow. Manbao was very excited and suddenly didnt want to sleep by herself. She put down the vitex seeds in her palm and climbed onto her parents bed, rolling right into the middle and staying still. Then, she looked at her parents with her eyes twinkling. Old Zhou couldnt help but pat her chubby bottom, Youre already so big and still want to sleep with your mom and dad, arent you ashamed? Not ashamed, not ashamed, Sanlang still sleeps with Dalang and his wife. Old Zhou thought that since Sanlang had only just stopped being able to say that recently and was still young, of course, he should sleep with his parents. Although his grandson was the same age as his daughter, and even two months older, in his heart, his daughter was much older. There was no helping it; country kids were late bloomers, able to do chores, but slow to understand things. Their own children were considered early bloomers, but that was only because they had enough food and drink. In some families, due to a lack of food and clothes, children of seven or eight still looked and spoke like they were four or five. But none were as early as Manbao. At least no one in the entire village, not even Landlord Bais eldest son, could walk shakily at nine months old and call out to his mom and dad at ten months. Therefore, they unanimously believed that their Manbao was the smartest child in the village, and possibly even in the entire township. Because she was smart and understood things early, thats why she had moved to sleep in her own small bed at an early age. There was no helping it; when she was just over a year old, she would go to Ms. Qian and tattle that her dad snored so loudly she couldnt sleep at night. Heaven knows she was actually the one who would fall asleep at the drop of a hat, like a dead pig, and not even thunder could wake her up. By the time she was two, she complained even more, telling her mom how her dad didnt wash his feet and that they smelled bad. So Old Zhou clenched his teeth, stamped his foot, and took his sons to cut down a tree on the mountain. They paid someone to make her a small bed and had Erlang make a bamboo partition to divide the room. Only then did the complaints cease. After that, Manbao rarely made a fuss about sleeping with her parents. But its good for a child to be close to her parents, so Old Zhou didnt chase his daughter off the bed. Instead, he got off the bed and brought her small blanket over to her. Manbao hugged her small blanket and rolled around on the bed, then began talking to her mother about the interesting things that happened at school. Ms. Qian listened quietly, occasionally asking a question or two to encourage her to say more. Thus, Ms. Qian learned that Manbao could now recognize many characters. Mr. Zhuang didnt just teach them to read and write, but also arithmetic. Her current best friend was the young master from the Bai Family known as Shanbao. Speaking of Bai Shanbao, Manbao had quite a bit to say. She spoke of him being bullied by Bai Erlang and seamlessly transitioned to the topic of his family planning to build a new house. Manbao had also spoken to Old Zhou about it, Dad, Ive already spoken to Shanbao about it. When the time comes, well have Eldest Brother and the others help out. Call more people, and in three to five days, we can finish building their house. Then he wont be bullied by Bai Er anymore. Old Zhous gaze flickered and he asked, Did the young master say when his family plans to start building their house? Manbao yawned lightly and said, Soon, soon, as soon as the site is finalized. Old Zhou fell silent and didnt speak. Manbao prodded him quietly, Dad, have you agreed or not? Old Zhou replied, Agreed, now go to sleep quickly. You still have school tomorrow. Manbaos breathing gradually became deep and steady. Seeing that she fell asleep in the span of a single sentence, Old Zhou couldnt help but shake his head with a chuckle, This child is just like her father, falls asleep as soon as she closes her eyes. Ms. Qian gave him a warning glance. Old Zhou hurriedly changed the subject, I was planning to speak to Dazhu about taking Dalang and Sanlang out to do some hard labor. But since the Bai Family is going to build a house, theres no need to go out anymore. We might as well stay at home. Ms. Qian slightly nodded in agreement, Building a house for a wealthy family is different from us. They wont skimp on stone or woodboth require labor. There will be work to do until after winter. The family needed money. Although Landlord Bai needed short-term labor to manage his fields, that work only came after the autumn harvest and was limited. Lately, Zhou Dalang and Zhou Sanlang had almost run out of work to do. Ms. Qian had been considering sending the two sons to the county to work as laborers. Even if they couldnt earn money, it would be good enough if they could at least work for their keep. It would save the family some grain. For the Bai Family to build a house was like a godsend. Early the next morning, while Manbao was washing her face with her eyes closed, Ms. Qian called her three sons in and said, Go with Five and let him show you what privet is. Pick all the ripe fruit you can find and bring it back. Manbao, who was at that moment washing her face, immediately perked up. She eagerly ran back to her little bed, pretended to reach under itactually taking from Kekeand handed the string of privet berries to Eldest Brother, Like these. If you see any unusual plants in the mountains, like the ones we dont have around here, whether they are flowers, grasses, or fruits, be sure to pick them and bring them back to me. Zhou Dalang and his brothers knew that Manbao had always enjoyed meddling with plants since she was little. She used to wreak havoc in the familys vegetable garden, disturbing the growing seedlings; anything she saw, she had to pull up and inspect. He glanced at their mother and agreed, taking the privet berries with him as he headed out. Then Ms. Qian told Manbao, Go and have your breakfast. Youll be late for school if you dont hurry. Manbao agreed and ran to the main house, but instead of going to the kitchen to eat, she first slipped into Zhou Silang and his brothers room. Brothers Zhou Si, Zhou Wu, and Zhou Liu shared a room. Zhou Silang was about to leave with a hoe in hand, and Zhou Wulang was also ready to go. Manbao started whispering to him, Fifth Brother, pay attention on the way. If you see more privet, pick it all. Its Moms medicine. Zhou Wulang didnt quite understand why the berries had overnight become Moms medicine, but he still nodded in agreement and asked, Manbao, could you talk to your friend and ask for a bit more sugar next time? A hundred pieces are a bit too few. He continued, Im planning to ask Second Miss Fu to introduce us to a few more customers. I think selling sugar is more profitable than selling flower baskets. Isnt it one coin for ten pieces of sugar that you buy? Manbao was reluctant to spend her points like that; she wanted to save them to buy medicine for Mom. Therefore, she refused, One hundred pieces a day is not too little. Arent you selling a little less to Second Miss? Shes alone; eating too much sugar will lead to cavities. Next time you go to the county, if she still wants to buy, tell her that people with cavities look especially ugly. Zhou Wulang: ... To say such a thing to a girldid he not want to live anymore, or did he not want to do business with the Fu Family anymore? Chapter 68 - 68 57 Favoritism ?68: Chapter 57: Favoritism 68: Chapter 57: Favoritism Zhou Wulang, in the end, couldnt get any extra sugar from Manbao. Shaking his head with a sigh, he led Sixth and Erya on their wayyes, Erya. Today, it was Eryas turn to go to the county town with them. Zhou Dalang and the others, carrying their baskets on their backs, left with them to pick the ligustrum berries their mother had mentioned. Manbao followed them out of the house tooshe was off to school! Upon arriving at school, she found that half of the students were already there. Bai Shanbao was sitting attentively in his seat, engrossed in reading, so she too hurried over, placed her book on the table, opened it, and then turned her head to look at her deskmate. Bai Shanbao finished reading this section with a nod and a shake of the head before stopping to look at his buddy, asking with a straight face, Whats up? Its nothing much, just wanted to let you know that my dad agreed to let my brother help build your house. Have you chosen a location yet? Speaking of this matter suddenly made Bai Shanbaos shoulders slump. He said, My great aunt doesnt want us to move out. She insists on keeping us, and even my grandmother stopped mentioning it yesterday. Manbao said, puzzled, Why keep outsiders living in your own home? That must be so uncomfortable, and it also wastes food. Bai Shanbao: ... Waste food? What kind of reasoning was that? Manbao said, I have an uncle who is incredibly lazy. After he quarreled with my aunt and she kicked him out, he came to our house looking for my mom, hoping to stay with us. But my mom refused to let him. She grabbed him by the ear, made him apologize to my aunt, and sent him back home. Manbao continued, My mom said it was for my uncles own good, as well as for our family. Living in someone elses home, you have to be mindful of themhow could that be comfortable compared to your own home? And for the host family, having a stranger live with them is uncomfortable too. When theres no outsider, you can fight and break bowls if you need to, or be affectionate. But with an outsider present, would you feel at ease? Bai Shanbao shook his head vigorously and complained, I used to be able to play with mud, but now my mom wont even let me do that. Yesterday, I saw a beautiful yellow flower in the flowerbed that I wanted to pick for my grandmother, but my mom wouldnt allow it. Humph, if it were in my own home, I could pick it if I wanted to, and my mom would never stop mein fact, shed praise me for being filial. Manbao then encouraged him, Thats why you need to move out. If you want to plant flowers later, I can bring my nephews to help you dig some up from the mountain. Let me tell you, there are so many pretty flowers on the mountain. Bai Shanbaos eyes lit up slightly, admiringly looking at her, Youve been up the mountain? Although Manbao had only been up twice, she was immensely proud, as if the mountain was her own backyard, boasting with her small little head high, Of course, I go whenever I want. Theres also wild fruit to eat on the mountain. The envy in Bai Shanbaos eyes deepened. Seeing this, Manbao became excited and puffed up her chest, If you want to go, Ill take you with me. Bai Shanbaos eyes sparkled, Really? Whats so difficult about that? After school, she would just take him to find her fourth brother. Manbao nodded with restrained pride. Bai Shanbao let out a cheer, and as Mr. Zhuangs figure appeared at the doorway, Bai Shanbao immediately picked up his book. He also nudged Manbao as a signal for her to be cautious around the teacher. Unfortunately, Manbao had never experienced being watched by a teacher, so she didnt understand Bai Shanbaos hint. She turned to look toward the doorway, saw the teacher, and flashed him a big smile, greeting him extra warmly, Good day, teacher! The other students: ...This is really courting death. Did they not see that the teacher caught you gossiping? Instead of getting angry, Mr. Zhuang suddenly hesitated, unable to express anger at the smiling face of his young student. He could only return the smile and then said authoritatively, The plan for a day begins with the morning. Shouldnt you be reading now? Manbao obediently opened her book and started to read along with Bai Shanbao, nodding and shaking her head. The other students: ...Were they seeing things? They must be seeing things, right? But Mr. Zhuang had let them off lightly just like that. However, during the break, Mr. Zhuang took the two kids aside to the neighboring courtyard. The students thought Mr. Zhuang intended to discipline them, feeling relieved inside, thinking, of course. How could one not be punished for chatting during the morning lessons? After all, the teacher had said you should take it outside if you want to chat, and you can only read books inside the classroom. What they didnt know was that Mr. Zhuang was asking the two children for their reflections on that days reading. Today, they were still learning from The Analects, and Mr. Zhuang had already explained the meaning. Manbao always had many questions. During the class, she hadnt wanted to interrupt her teacher with questions, but now that she had the chance, she excitedly asked them all. Mr. Zhuang smiled and answered her questions one by one. Bai Shanbao originally didnt dare to bring up his own questions in fear of being scolded for being troublesome, which would result in being hit on the palms, and next time, the teacher would complain to his grandmother, saying he was not concentrating and thinking about all sorts of irrelevant and crafty things every day. Seeing that Manbao dared to ask anything, he summoned up his courage, his eyes shining as he brought out his questions for Mr. Zhuang, including the ones he had when studying the Thousand Character Classic. There were too many questions, and the break time simply wasnt enough. Mr. Zhuang patted his little head, smiling, Dont rush. After lunch, come to my place for a rest, and Ill teach you more. Then, after a pause, he added, If the other students ask you why you came here, just say the teacher asked you to come clean. Understand? The two children nodded together, their round little heads and round little faces unbearably cute. Seeing Bai Shanbao look somewhat dazed, Mr. Zhuang gently tapped his small head again and said with a smile, What are you thinking about? Snap out of it and get back to your class. Manbao pulled Bai Shanbao around and ran toward the classroom. Bai Shanbao whispered to her, The teacher actually touched my head. Manbao stared at him curiously, Yeah, so what? Bai Shanbao said, My previous teachers would never touch my head. They wouldnt touch other kids heads either; they would only hit us. Manbao was indignant, Then your previous teacher was a baddie. Mr. Zhuang is so much better. Only naughty kids get hit on the palms. But once a naughty kid starts behaving, Mr. Zhuang touches his head again. Bai Shanbao felt wistful, If only I had come here earlier, when I was in the academy before... Bai Shanbao let slip more than he intended, telling Manbao all about his past experiences in the academy, and by the time Mr. Zhuang returned to the classroom, he had almost failed to hold back. He was left longing for more, pitying that he was sitting right under the teachers nose. If he had been at the back of the class, he could have continued talking with Manbao. Manbao, also not having had enough, skipped looking for the teacher after the class and ran to the kitchen to get her meal. She found a patch of grass outside the school and continued chatting while eating. It was only after Mr. Zhuang had waited for a long time in the courtyard and came out to find the two kids sitting side by side on the grass, engrossed in conversation, that he realized why they hadnt come to see him. Mr. Zhuang was so furious that his beard puffed up. He called out and brought the two kids into the courtyard, deciding to give them a talk that noon about what promises mean and the importance of respecting teachers and valuing traditions! Chapter 69 - 69 58 Start a Small Stove ?69: Chapter 58: Start a Small Stove 69: Chapter 58: Start a Small Stove Manbao and Bai Shanbao hung their heads as the teacher chattered away, scolding them for a while, and by the way stuffed a bunch of things into their heads before finally starting to give them special lessons on the small stove. Mr. Zhuang led them into the study. The study was divided into an inner and outer room; the outer room had two rows of bookshelves, a large desk, and a chair. The inner room was a tea room, as Mr. Zhuang was averse to the cold, and so was his elderly wife. When they had moved here, they had a heated brick bed installed in both the bedroom and the study. The heated brick bed was quite low, covered with mats, and right in the middle there was a set of tea equipment. Mr. Zhuang knew children should not drink tea, so he didnt let them, and instead took the head seat, having the two kids sit across from him. Bai Shanbao took off his shoes and crawled up, folding his legs and sitting neatly, with practiced ease. Manbao had never sat like this before, and curiously crawled beside him, but as soon as she attempted to cross her legs, her body tilted and she fell to the side. Bai Shanbao was just for show, after all; he was still young, and although his grandmother had taught him to sit this way, he rarely did so at home. A bump from Manbao didnt even make him sway, he just toppled over to the side directly, and the two children ended up tumbling into a pile. A glint of amusement flashed in Mr. Zhuangs eyes, and he almost couldnt help bursting into laughter, but remembering the dignity of a teacher, he restrained himself. With a large hand, he helped the two children straighten up while holding back his laughter, and said, People have grown accustomed to sitting on stools and sleeping on beds, but in the world of scholars, many either out of habit or elegance still insist on sitting on mats. As future scholars, you will need to learn these etiquettes. Mr. Zhuang said, However, youre still young now, so you dont need to sit so stiffly. Mr. Zhuang was about to continue when Manbao curiously asked, Whats a world of scholars? Is a stool a kind of chair? Why is it called a stool? Mr. Zhuangs prepared words got stuck in his throat, but after thinking for a moment, he started from the beginning with them. What is the world of scholars? In simple terms, its a lot, a whole lot of shi, the circle of learned people is called the world of scholars. In mentioning shi, we must talk about the different classes of farmer, worker, merchant, and lowly, and only after Mr. Zhuang had explained all these, in which time the two children came up with many more questions, did he realize how the time had passed. The topic he had planned to cover was completely missed, but he did not regret it, seeing that the two children were fascinated, and he smiled satisfactorily. He glanced outside and said, Theres a quarter of an hour more before class starts, you two lie down and close your eyes to rest a bit. The two children felt especially lively and not tired at all. Mr. Zhuang then said, Even if you dont feel tired, mental activity drains your vitality and blood. Right now, you dont notice it, but you wont grow tall later on, and youll become slow-witted. By then, itll be too late to change. Upon hearing they might not only fail to grow tall but also become slow-witted, the two kids dared not argue any longer, and with a flop, they promptly lied down on the mat and closed their eyes. However, at that moment, their cerebral cortex was still very active, reminiscing about the knowledge the teacher had just shared, unable to fall asleep at all. They felt that closing their eyes was useless. But after a while, their breathing gradually steadied, their brains slowed down, and their breaths grew longer and softer until they began to drift off to sleep, drowsily. Mr. Zhuang sat opposite them, lifting the teapot from the stove to pour himself a cup of tea, slowly sipping it. He looked at the children, who were gradually stretching out their arms and legs, and revealed a slight smile. Mr. Zhuang had been in very good spirits these past few days. Although a few unpleasant events had occurred after his disciples entered the school, the atmosphere became more lively, and he had discovered two promising students. A lifetime of studying The Analects would never be tedious; each recitation could bring about a different comprehension, and besides The Analects, there were many other sage writings. Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, Military Strategy, there were so many books to read, so he had much to teach the children. Mr. Zhuang had a wealth of knowledge to impart on his students, but not every student was suitable to learn it all. After thirty years as a student and fifteen years as a teacher, not to mention his various roles as a strategist and as a mentor, he knew all too well how hard it was to find the right path for someone, how challenging it was for a student to learn the knowledge that suited them, and how difficult it was for a teacher to pass on their wealth of knowledge. When he decided to come to Qili Village, he had given up on his ultimate ideal, for finding a suitable child was far too difficult, far too difficult indeed. He didnt think it was possible to find a child both smart and meeting his expectations in the entire prefecture, let alone in these remote hills. But he had found one. First was Manbao, a smart, filial, and respectful child. The only shortfall was that she was a girl. And now there was another one. In the entire school, there were twenty-eight students, some dull and some clever, but Mr. Zhuang knew they werent clever to that extent; some understood the shallow knowledge he imparted right away, while others needed it repeated many, many times before they could remember. Those few who understood would often forget once they turned their heads. So he couldnt teach them deeper things. Why was he willing to take Manbao and Shanbao aside for additional lessons on the small stove? Because not only did they understand what he said, they could also think laterally and ask more questions. Those questions ranged from the simple to the complex, and in speaking with them, he wasnt merely passing on knowledge; in the process of speaking and thinking, he too was gaining insights. Mr. Zhuang leaned back, resting against the wall, and closed his eyes to rest. With the current situation, he was very satisfied, extremely satisfied. To have one successful disciple was enough, but to have two meant a lifetime without regrets. Mr. Zhuang decided that he would need to make a trip back to the prefecture the next time he had a day off; he needed to bring home some items that Manbao and Shanbao would need. Mr. Zhuang, with his eyes closed in reverie, sensed it was about time and opened his eyes to check the sundial. He then woke the two children up and they all went to class together. The afternoons lessons were mostly about arithmetic and poetry, and both children enjoyed these two subjects, especially arithmetic. Manbao discovered she was particularly quick at calculations, and almost each class was praised by the teacher, so she studied with even more zeal. After school in the afternoon, Mr. Zhuang wanted to take the two children aside for more lessons on the small stove, but before he could speak, the two little ones excitedly stood up and, together with their classmates, bowed respectfully to send him off. When he waved to tell everyone they could dispense with the formality, and was about to speak again, the two kids were already running off with their books at lightning speed. Mr. Zhuang, who hadnt managed to speak: ... After a moment, he shook his head and smiled, deciding it was alright; the two children were still young, so why rush? When Manbao and the others ran out, Datou was already waiting for them. Seeing the little boy by the little misss side, he had grown accustomed to it, so he took them both back home, set their things down, and then ran out the door. Chapter 70 - 70 第五十九章 欣慰_1 ?70: ʮ ο_1 70: ʮ ο_1 Manbao took Bai Shanbao by the hand and they ran all the way toward Zhou SiLangs wasteland. Datou, along with the Bai familys servant who had appeared from who knows where, followed behind them. Ms. Liu had instructed the servant that if Bai Shanbao was playing with the little mistress from the Zhou family, there was no need to stop them, just to bring them back when it was time for dinner. If he was messing around with other students, he should be taken back immediately, so the servant just followed and didnt intervene. Zhou SiLang and Second Son Daya were squatting on the ground taking a break, gnawing on a thin stalk of sugarcane they had found somewhere. When Datou came over with Manbao and a plump, fair-skinned child, Zhou SiLang reluctantly broke off a few sections of his sugarcane for them. Bai Shanbao didnt recognize this thing and didnt know how to eat it. Manbao had eaten it before; it was one of the few snacks her family would bring back from the fields for her. She taught Bai Shanbao how to eat it and said, This thing can be used to make sugar. Before Bai Shanbao could speak, Zhou SiLang expressed his doubt, Ive never heard of sugarcane being used to make sugar. It definitely can, Keke had told her, and there couldnt be a mistake. She added, If wheat can be used to make sugar, why cant sugarcane? The sugar they bought from the market was mostly made from wheat, Keke said it was called maltose. Zhou SiLang was at a loss for words and couldnt help but ask, Then you tell me, how is it made? How would Manbao know? She went to ask Keke. The system asked, Does the host want to search for sugar-making techniques? Manbao answered Yes, and the system generated a string of data, its voice sounding somewhat excited, This will consume one hundred points. Does the host confirm the search? Manbao blinked, Why does it need points? The systems voice dropped a little, saying, This is technical knowledge. The sugarcane you have recorded in the system only has the most basic introduction, and the description of the sugar-making technique is not comprehensive. So, if you want to make sugar, apart from figuring it out yourself, you can only purchase this technology through the systems encyclopedia. Keke paused then said, Once the host searches for this technology, the content of the technology will permanently exist within the system and the host can view it at any time. The implication was, it wouldnt be a loss for you. But Manbao was someone who couldnt bear to spend an extra point for a bag of sugar, would she spend one hundred points for a sugar-making technique? So Manbao refused Keke, and then called up the entry for sugarcane. Anything she had recorded, there would be people studying it later, and then they would upload the entry to the system, which she could click to read for free. The entry for sugarcane had been recorded for a long time, but the entry was very short, only mentioning its cultivation history and distribution areas, and things like its use for making sugar and alcohol. Manbao scratched her head and said to Zhou SiLang, Making sugar should be similar to making soup, just chop it up and boil it in water, right? You should ask how people make sugar from wheat, it might be similar to that. Thats their trade secret, why would they tell me? Manbao naturally said, Then you just try one method after another. After all, sugarcane doesnt cost any money, you can try as much as you want. Such a bold declaration left Zhou SiLang speechless. Bai Shanbao, however, was pensive, Didnt the teacher say that there are many, many pieces of knowledge in books? Maybe theres a method to make sugar in them? Manbao: My family doesnt have any books. My family does, Bai Shanbao said, My family has lots and lots of books! Manbaos eyes lit up, Really? Can I see it? Of course, you can. Come to my house after school tomorrow, and Ill show you the books, Bai Shanbao said. When they left their old home, they didnt bring much else, just several carts of books. His grandmother had said that those books were their familys treasures and whether he would make something of himself depended on these treasures. Bai Shanbao actually had a little secret he hadnt told Manbao: he thought there were too many books. Just the thought of his grandmother wanting him to read all of them scared him terribly, so he wanted to give some to Manbao. If he made other friends in the future, he would give them some as well. Every book he gave away meant one less that he had to read, an idea that had just occurred to him. Take Zhou SiLang, for example. He just had so many sweet canes, but after giving each of them one piece, there wasnt much left for him. If Ms. Liu and Mr. Zhuang knew that this was how Bai Shanbao applied logic, they would probably die of anger. However, at the moment, none of them knew about it, and Manbao just thought Bai Shanbao was really a good person. Not only did he play with her but he was also willing to let her read his books, and now he was whispering in her ear, offering to give her some books. Manbao was truly moved, so when she saw Bai Shanbao looking eagerly toward the mountain, she took the initiative to lead him up the hill to play. Whenever Manbao went up the mountain, Datou was bound to follow to protect them, so Second Son and Daya couldnt sit still either, insisting on joining in. As a result, the moment Manbao arrived, she took all of Zhou SiLangs helpers away. Zhou SiLang was so angry he shouted, Are you here to help or not? Are you?! But it was no use; a bunch of children focused only on the wildflowers and grasses on the mountain already couldnt hear him, as they chased each other and ran uphill, hooting and hollering. The Bai familys servants followed quietly. He figured he would need to report back to the old lady and suggest getting a bigger study companion for the young master, one who could keep up with his running around. This mountain wasnt very big. What was extensive were the forests stretching out behind it. This particular mountain was mostly low shrubs and weeds, commonly used for fodder, so fewer wild animals meant the adults felt safe letting the children run around here. To call it a mountain was actually generousit was more like a hill. Reaching the top, the children were out of breath. They simply sat down on the ground and, after catching their breath, stood up to take in the view from above. Seeing the wisp of smoke rising from the nearby village, Bai Shanbao couldnt help but let out a loud Aaaah. His shout startled Manbao, but seeing him shout so gleefully, she too opened her mouth and started to yell at the sky. Datou and the others joined in and soon the wilderness echoed with their voices, nearly deafening the servant nearby. In Manbaos mind, Keke watched with some interest and instructed her, Put your hands by your mouth when you shoutit will make your voice louder. Manbao covered her face with her hands and asked in her mind, Like this? Cup your mouth... With Kekes guidance, Manbao finally made the right gesture and began to yell again. When she finished, she asked Bai Shanbao beside her, Doesnt it sound much louder? Thinking she was challenging him, Bai Shanbao mimicked her and let out a loud yell, then said, Mines louder than yours. The two children began to argue. The servant, fearing they might start fighting, quickly pointed to a cluster of flowers nearby and said, Young master, arent those flowers beautiful? Manbao looked in the direction he indicated and immediately said, I know these flowers. How about I make a flower crown for you? It looks very pretty when worn. So the quarrel ended, and they both ran to pick flowers and grass, then squatted down to start making flower crowns. Manbao was a bit rusty, but her flower crown turned out much prettier than Bai Shanbaos, so she gave hers to him and even placed it on his head. She reluctantly accepted the flower crown that Bai Shanbao gave her. Although it was quite ugly, to give him face, Manbao still insisted on wearing it all the way home. Bai Shanbao also returned home with a crown of flowers to see his grandmother and mother. When Ms. Liu and Ms. Zheng saw Bai Shanbao come back from school looking like this, they were both amused and exasperated. But seeing how happy he was, with his little face blushing with excitement, they couldnt help but feel reassured. Chapter 71 - 71 60 Exceptional Intelligence ?71: Chapter 60 Exceptional Intelligence 71: Chapter 60 Exceptional Intelligence Zhou Dalang, with his two younger brothers, brought back a lot of Ligustrum seeds, but they had no idea how to process them. Manbao immediately went to Keke to check the entry for Ligustrum seeds and found that the entry for Ligustrum seeds hadnt been properly written yet, and the reward points hadnt been issued. Confused, she asked, Keke? The system said, The researchers are still conducting related research. Although there are some records in the encyclopedia, the accuracy of these records has to be verified before they can be added to the entry. It said, Unlike the previous wisteria and azalea, Ligustrum seeds also involve pharmacological knowledge, so the evaluation will take some time. It reassured Manbao that as soon as the researchers confirmed the entry, it would be uploaded instantly, and the points for this part would be settled. Manbao didnt expect it to be so troublesome. Wouldnt that mean if there was something they could never research conclusively, she would never receive the points? Fearing that this might dampen her enthusiasm, the system said, That wont happen. To protect the hosts interests, the main system has set time limits: plants for over a month, animals for over three months. If the entry and reward cant be determined within these periods, a minimum of one thousand points will be paid as a preliminary reward. The system said, If the host discovers something that future humans cant determine even past the time limit, that thing must be an ancient endangered species. Perhaps the points you want to collect to buy medicine for your mother could be gathered at once. Manbaos eyes sparkled, Thats great? Then tell me, what species have gone extinct in your time? Ill just focus on finding those for you, right? The system hadnt expected her to think so quickly. Previous hosts had indeed discovered this method, but they were adults; she was just a child. Regretting having said too much, the system quickly cautioned, Host, the main purpose of our encyclopedia is to pursue a comprehensive collection of species, not just endangered ones. Thus, its forbidden for subsystems to search for such species. They only scan the vicinity as they accompany the host, aiming for a comprehensive catalog. Even when Manbao had snuck into the vegetable garden two years ago to pull up cabbage seedlings for it, and it reluctantly entered them into the encyclopedia, it didnt complain but still rewarded Manbao with some points. Well, it was just that the points were so few it almost felt ashamed to deduct its rightful salary. While Manbao regretted this, she also thought the encyclopedias rule was a good one. But, since the entry for Ligustrum wasnt ready, what were they to do with their Ligustrum seeds? Manbao squatted on the ground, watching her brothers carefully take bunches of Ligustrum seeds out of their baskets to air on mats and asked, Do they need to be sun-dried? Zhou Dalang replied, Considering how plump these seeds are, how long will it take to dry them? Besides, Ive never seen any fruit that needs to be dried other than persimmons, and you have to peel persimmons. Do these Ligustrum seeds need peeling? Persimmons need to be squeezed when being dried; do these need squeezing? Most importantly, why did they bring all these seeds back? Even if it was for their mother to eat, she couldnt possibly finish them all. Ms.Qian came out, assisted by Junior Ms.Qian. Overhearing, she glared at her foolish son and turned to Zhou ErLang, Erlang, you and Five go to town tomorrow. Take some Ligustrum seeds to the apothecary and ask how to prepare them, find out if they buy processed Ligustrum seeds, and how much they pay per jin. And if its fresh, how much per jin. Zhou ErLang agreed. Ms.Qian then instructed them to put everything in the woodshed to dry and told them to be careful coming and going. Feeling proud, Manbao said to Keke, Even without an entry, my mother has a way. The system also said, The hosts mother is very clever, the smartest in the family besides the host. Manbao, very curious, squatted and chatted in her mind with Keke, How do you know Im the smartest? Scanning. Future humans have classified intelligence into several levels, the system paused before saying, Not only is the hosts intelligence the highest in Qili Village, but its also the best within a thousand li. When I descended, I instinctively chose the area with the highest intelligence. Otherwise, even though its landing site was a bit off, it wouldnt have ended up in this remote ravine. During the first two years, the system had its regrets, but as Manbao grew older and more adorable, and they developed a good relationshipManbao clearly didnt consider it a machine but a friend and an elderthose regrets faded away. Most importantly, the host was young, and intelligence grows with age. As long as she continues to think hard and study well, once she leaves this valley, wont she reap great rewards? The system labeled Manbao as having potential, and it had been quite worried for the past couple of years. Now that she was formally enrolled in school and had taken a teacher, Keke was less pressured, so it began talking more. In a conversation with Manbao, it mentioned, In your family, your mothers IQ is higher than your fathers and Second Brothers, while your Second Brother and Silang have the same IQ, the highest among all the brothers. Manbao, who disapproved of Zhou SiLang, said, Second Brother is alright, but how is Silang a clever person? Hes so dumb, he even goes gambling! Thats not only about IQ but also about self-control, the system replied. I only scan their intelligence values. A comprehensive evaluation would require some testing methods. Extremely curious, Manbao asked, Then do you think any of my nephews are smart? The system was silent for a moment before saying, No, Eryas IQ is about the same as her fathers, though. Datou, Second Son, Third Son, and Fourth Son arent smart? System: Their IQs are even lower than your brothers. Of course, it could also be due to their young age, as intelligence can be developed. Manbao: It turns out all my nephews and nieces are dimwits! Looking at her nieces and nephews with the sympathy reserved for simpletons, Manbao sighed deeply and went into the kitchen to talk to her sisters-in-law, Big Sister, Second Sister-in-law, Third Sister-in-law, next time you have children, how about asking Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother to collect some walnuts for you to eat, okay? The sisters-in-law were confused, Were going to have children? Thats not the point, okay? The real point is, Eating walnuts will make the children smarter. Another dimwit in the family, and they might as well be called a clan of simpletons. Deciding it was prudent to stay silent, the system pretended to have crashed. But Manbao didnt let it off the hook and continued to ask about the intelligence of the people at her school. The system said, The hosts classmates are very bright, almost as smart as you. Besides them, your teachers IQ is also very high, just a tad below yours. However, its the result of years of study. If the host and your classmates study diligently and think more, you will definitely become even smarter in the future. Manbao gasped in surprise and delight, for in her eyes, Mr. Zhuang was very intelligent. Was she actually smarter than Mr. Zhuang? Armed with this new understanding, Manbao went to school the next day, full of energy and looking at Bai Shanbao with a particularly contented gaze. Chapter 72 - 72 61 Bickering ?72: Chapter 61 Bickering 72: Chapter 61 Bickering Bai Shanbao hadnt noticed anything wrong and was just happily saying to her, My grandmother agreed to let you come to my house to read. What book do you want to read? Im not sure, Ill see what books your family has first, Manbao thought for a moment, Do you have any books specifically on the preparation of herbal medicines? You want to prepare herbal medicines? Bai Shanbao said, Just go to the drugstore to buy medicine. Where does the drugstores medicine come from? Bai Shanbao looked at her innocently, how would he know where it came from? Manbao said seriously, I sell it to them. As long as I learn how to prepare the medicines, I can sell them to the drugstores. Bai Shanbao became curious and exclaimed, So your family grows medicinal herbs? This time, Manbao was the one who was surprised, So medicinal herbs can be grown as well. The two children looked at each other, speechless for a long while. In the end, they took their question to their teacher. Mr. Zhuang didnt know why they had started asking about medicinal herbs, but he still resolved their doubts, Some medicinal herbs can be cultivated, while most are wild. Mr. Zhuang said, Many medicinal herbs are found in the wild, and there are people who collect and deliver them to drugstores. These people are called herbalists, and many countryside doctors also engage in this business. Mr. Zhuang promptly took the two children behind the school and pointed at a clump of wild grass on the ground, Look, this is a medicinal herb. Bai Shanbao didnt recognize it, but Manbao did. She said excitedly, This is Indian pennywort, also called common liverwort! She had picked it when she was very small and given it to Keke, so it was recorded in the system. Mr. Zhuang then nodded with a smile, Both of those names arent wrong, but in the medical books, its called ground pennywort. Its properties are cold, and its flavors are bitter and pungent. It enters the liver, spleen, and kidney meridians and can treat heatstroke, diarrhea, damp-heat jaundice, and injuries from falls and blows. You can also pluck and dry it in your spare time to take to the drugstore. Mr. Zhuang smiled and said, Every summer, Jishi Hall burns a large barrel of ground pennywort water and places it at the entrance of the drugstore for passersby and merchants to relieve heat and detoxify. Manbao was now very interested in making money because the fish and meat provided by the Bai Family was going to be finished today. She had told her mother that they would slaughter the big rooster tomorrow. But her mother disagreed, saying that if they slaughtered the rooster, the hens wouldnt be able to hatch chicks. With no other choice, Manbao had already decided to buy another chicken. So she squatted down with particular interest to look at the Indian pennywort. In fact, she was familiar with this herb, which could be found behind her house, along the ridges and at the edges of fields. It was precisely because it was ubiquitous that she had picked some a long time ago and entered it into Kekes system. Manbao, full of enthusiasm, asked the teacher, Teacher, how much does the drugstore pay for a pound of this herb? Mr. Zhuang was stumped; he really didnt know. All he remembered was that when he was very young, the brother from the house next door would always go and pluck it, dry it, and then take it to the drugstore to sell, bag by bag. Mr. Zhuang pondered, Next time I go to the city, I can ask for you. Manbao became happy and whispered conspiratorially to Bai Shanbao, After class, lets come pluck Indian pennywort. Bai Shanbao shook his head, I dont need to make money. Manbao then asked, Do you have money then? Bai Shanbao proudly said, No! But my mother does. Thats shameful, always asking your mother for money when you need to spend. Since I understood things, I havent asked my parents for money. I have my own money. Bai Shanbao originally didnt think there was anything wrong with asking his mother for money. After all, his mother had said that all the money at home was his. Since it was all his, of course, he could spend it whenever he wanted. But Manbao didnt see it that way. She told him, Only the money you earn yourself is truly yours. Using someone elses money, even if its given to you, the person can take it back at any time, and youll feel uneasy. Manbao even wracked her brain to give him examples, Like my fourth brother, although the money at home is used collectively, its not just his. So when he previously lost money gambling, the family paid off his debts, but since it wasnt money he earned himself, wasting the familys money would make him subject to anger and disdain. Manbao said, You dont have your own money. If you spend too much in the future, your mother will also disdain you. Bai Shanbao didnt believe it, That wont happen, my mother said that all the money in my family is for me. Keke had even declared her the smartest person. This conclusion was drawn from her long observations, how could it be wrong? So she hummed, Dont believe me? Go back and ask your mother, tell her to give you all the money right now, see if shes willing. Bai Shanbao said, My mother will surely agree. Manbao, She definitely wont agree! Will so! Wont! Bai Shanbao glared at her angrily, and Manbao glared back defiantly. Mr. Zhuang, who had been completely ignored on the side: ... Just as he was about to say something, Bai Shanbao suddenly huffed loudly, turned away, and even turned his back, Im not going to be friends with you anymore. I wont take you home after school to read. Then dont take me, Manbao replied in anger with her hands on her hips, From now on, youre not allowed to come to my house either. So, each with a huff, the two young friends turned around and headed back to the classroom, keeping a distance of eight zhang from each other. Mr. Zhuang, left behind: ... Watching the backs of the two indignant disciples, he shook his head and chuckled twice, finding infinite amusement in the situation. Deciding not to mediate, he leisurely returned to the classroom with his hands behind his back. Manbao and Bai Shanbao did indeed break off their friendship, neither speaking to the other throughout the class. However, their voices while reading climbed over each others, as in a competition. When answering questions during class, they would race to respond, glaring at each other whenever one failed to outpace the other. Mr. Zhuang watched them with a child-like demeanor, struggling to contain his laughter. After school, the two no longer ran out together but took their respective books and left. Datou was still squatting outside waiting to pick up his little aunt. Seeing her coming out, he was especially eager to greet her, Little Aunt, arent we going to Young Master Bais house? No, Im not friends with him anymore. Ah? Datou immediately asked, Did he bully you? Manbao huffed, Could he even bully me? Hes so dumb, he didnt even believe my conclusion. Im the smartest person within a thousand miles. Datou realized then that they had quarreled, not fought, which was a relief. No longer worried, Datou nodded and echoed, Yes, Little Aunt is the smartest. Though this response was just placatory consolation, Manbao failed to notice and took Datous words at face value, nodding her head in agreement. Bai Shanbao lost interest in playing too, returning home in a huff. Ms.Liu and Ms.Zheng hadnt expected the child to come home so early from school today. He usually played outside for more than half an hour, only coming back when it was nearly dark. Ms.Liu looked outside and didnt see the little girl, so she asked with a smile, Shanbao, didnt you say your friend was coming over to read today? Why didnt she come? Chapter 73 - 73 62 There is a Golden House in the Book ?73: Chapter 62: There is a Golden House in the Book 73: Chapter 62: There is a Golden House in the Book Bai Shanbao said huffily, I wont be friends with her anymore. Ms. Liu and Ms. Zheng: ... The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law didnt want to laugh, but Shanbao was looking too adorable right now, and they couldnt hold it in. Annoyed, Bai Shanbao stomped over and asked Ms. Liu, Mom, just give me all the money. Ms. Zheng certainly didnt expect her son to suddenly ask for money, and after a moment of surprise, she laughed and told the maid to grab a handful of money to give him, asking, What do you want the money for? Ms. Liu also looked at him seriously. Bai Shanbao simply said, Nothing, I just want money. Seeing the maid had only grabbed a handful of coins, Bai Shanbao became even less pleased, Mom, I want all the money. Ms. Zheng was shocked, What do you need so much money for? Now Ms. Zheng couldnt laugh either. Had her son been swindled by someone? But Bai Shanbao insisted, Nothing, I just want it. Mom, hurry up and give it all to me. Ms. Lius brows slightly furrowed, and Ms. Zheng also became worried, hugging him and asking, Shanbao, have you been deceived by someone? Bai Shanbao was bewildered. Who had deceived him? He thought about it and realized he had only been busy arguing with Manbao today and hadnt had the chance to talk to any other classmates, which meant no one had deceived him. So, Bai Shanbao shook his head, continuing to demand all the money. Ms. Zheng almost burst into tears, wiping her eyes as she said, My child, what do you want money for? You insist on having all the money at home without telling me what for, isnt this being deceived? Bai Shanbao said, I really dont want to do anything, I just want the money. How would he know what he was going to do with the money? All he did was ask his mom to see if she would give him all the money. If she did, hmph, tomorrow he would go and mock Manbao. It was her who was foolish, yet she laughed at me for being stupid. Whos the foolish one now? Now Ms. Zheng really did cry. Ms. Liu glanced at her daughter-in-law before pulling her grandson in front of her and asking, Shanbao, what put the idea of asking for money into your head all of a sudden? Bai Shanbao angrily recounted his argument with Manbao from that day in every detail, starting from their claim of wanting to read books on processing medicinal materials. After speaking, Bai Shanbao felt parched and took a drink of water before continuing, Grandma, please tell mom to give me all the money in the house. Tomorrow I want to take it to show her, so she can see who is really wrong, her or me. Ms. Zheng couldnt help but laugh and cry at the same time. Ms. Liu, on the other hand, couldnt help but laugh heartily, patting her grandsons head and saying, Silly boy, your classmate was right, you are being silly. How could we possibly give you all the money in the house? Bai Shanbao was stunned, turning his head to look at his mother. Ms. Zheng also laughed, saying, Yes, Shanbao, the money at home has many uses. How could we take it all out just because of a childs fit of pique? Tears quickly gathered in Bai Shanbaos eyes, his heart filled with grievance, and he burst into loud crying, shouting angrily at his mother, You lied to me, you lied to me, you clearly said all the money in the house was mine, all of it! Ms. Liu didnt expect her daughter-in-law to teach her grandson such things, and her face tensed for a moment, but she quickly relaxed, giving her daughter-in-law a stern look while letting Bai Shanbao cry and scream, waiting for him to vent for a while before taking his hand and saying, Child, what your mother said is not wrong. Although her daughter-in-law had taught the wrong thing, obviously she couldnt say that to the child, otherwise the grandson might doubt everything the daughter-in-law said in the future. So Ms. Liu suppressed her dissatisfaction, smiling and gently explaining to Bai Shanbao, Shanbao, the snacks you eat, the tea you drink, the meals you have, going to school, the new clothes you wear, all these things cost money, right? Bai Shanbao nodded. Where does this money come from? Shanbao: From home! Yes, from home. In the future, youll go to places far away to study, youll need to get married and have children, and all these will cost money, money that also comes from home. Including when your grandmother and your mother are gone, you will inherit the family business. So tell me, isnt all the money at home indeed yours? Bai Shanbao nodded. But you see, your grandmother and your mother also need to eat and dress, likewise needing expenses. Where does that money come from? Bai Shanbao didnt hesitate, From home. Yes, it also comes from home. Now tell me, if you take all the money away now, what will happen to your mother and me? Ms. Liu hugged him and said, In the future, if you need money, as long as its for a legitimate purpose, like buying books or gifts, you can ask for money from home. But doing something ridiculous like taking all the money out to show your classmates at school is out of the question. Seeing that Bai Shanbao was listening seriously, Ms. Liu knew he understood. Ms. Liu was relieved, feeling that her grandson was as clever as her son. She put her arm around his shoulders and said, Child, actually what Manbao said was not wrong either. If you want to freely spend money, its best if you earn it yourself. Bai Shanbao frowned, Then should I go pluck Indian pennywort to exchange for money? Ms. Zheng wanted to speak, but Ms. Liu gave her a look, and smiled at her grandson, If you have that perseverance, its all for the best, but herbs like Indian pennywort bring in little money. It is by studying, studying well, that you can earn a lot of money. Havent you heard a saying? Ms. Liu said, In books, one finds beauties as fair as jade, in books, one finds houses of gold. There is gold in the books, but you must find it yourself. Bai Shanbaos eyes lit up, asking, If I find it, does that mean Ive earned it myself? Ms. Liu nodded, Correct! Bai Shanbao turned and ran, Grandma, Mom, Im going to find the house of gold. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law watched him stomp his way to the study, and then they smiled in relief. Ms. Liu turned her head to Ms. Zheng, her smile faint, Dont mention such things again in the future. How many young people have been spoiled by those words? Does our family have thousands of bushels of grain, or tens of thousands taels of silver? This modest family fortune is just enough to provide for Shanbao for a lifetime. If he wants to stand out, he must rely on himself, understand? Ms. Zheng stood up, bowing her head guiltily in agreement. Only then did Ms. Liu wave her hand to let her go. Manbao also ran home puffing with anger, but as soon as she saw the big rooster wandering around their yard, she forgot about Bai Shanbao and immediately reached out to grab the roosters tail. Datou, terrified, blocked her path, Miss, be careful of the hen pecking you. Indeed, it was the hen! Their familys hen was particularly protective of this rooster; it had been fighting over it these past few days and had become fearless of people. If they dared to chase the rooster, it would chase them back pecking fiercely. It was truly too domineering, too infuriating. Seeing the plump rooster, Manbaos mouth watered, and then she stomped her way into the house, telling her mother, Mom, lets eat chicken tomorrow. Ms. Qian was sitting beside the window, sewing shoe soles, and upon hearing this, she laughed and asked, Where do we have chicken? Manbao: Ill go buy one! Ms. Qian asked, Do you have enough money? Manbao nodded vigorously, Enough! Then go ahead. What good is keeping so much money on a child? Best to spend it all. Ms. Qian thought for a moment and said, Dont buy a rooster. Buy a hen thats about to lay eggs or that already lays eggs. They would continue to raise it. Manbao laughed cheerfully, of course, she wouldnt listen to her mother; she wasnt foolish. She knew that if she bought a laying hen home, her mother would surely not want to eat it again. Chapter 74 - 74 63 Reconciliation ?74: Chapter 63: Reconciliation 74: Chapter 63: Reconciliation Fifth Brother and the others still havent come back from the county town, so as soon as Manbao put the book down, she followed Datou to the fields to look for Silang. Manbao was particularly well-behaved today, not causing any trouble at all. Holding the small stones dug up by Zhou SiLang and the like, she walked outside, following Datou and the others to pile things up at the edge of the field. Zhou SiLang felt a bit unused to it and took the opportunity to ask her, Why are you so well-behaved today? Manbao said, Im always very well-behaved. Actually, she had an ulterior motiveshe had intended to help out first before mentioning it, but since Silang brought it up, Manbao spoke about it. She dragged Silang over to look at the Indian pennywort on the ground. Indeed, the plant was everywhere. Silang, do you know what this is? Zhou SiLang looked at his sister disdainfully and said, Its Indian pennywort, of course. Do you know its a medicine? Eh, so its a medicine. All I knew was to chew it and paste it to stop bleeding if I got hurt from falling. Zhou SiLang stirred the cluster of herbs on the ground and looked up to ask, And then? Then we pluck it, dry it, and send it to the pharmacy. Didnt you want me to think about you? Here I am, thinking about you, right? Zhou SiLang expressed doubt, This thing thats found everywhere, would a pharmacy want it? Bamboo is also common, yet many people buy the winnowing baskets and bamboo baskets made by Second Brother, dont they? Zhou SiLang seemed thoughtful. He hadnt decided yet, but Datou and the others around him were already getting excited, Little auntie, well also pluck Indian pennywort. Can you help us take it to the pharmacy? I cant, but I can ask Fifth Brother to help you. Manbao had already planned it out and said, The more the merrier. Ill pluck, and you guys should also look for Indian pennywort with big leaves, the ones that are heavier. Maybe just pulling on them will give us a pound. Even Zhou SiLang felt a spark of excitement as he stared intently at the Indian pennywort on the ground, thinking that this could be the start of great wealth! Manbao burst his bubble, Lets start reclaiming land first, Silang. You can pluck herbs when you rest. Its not tiring anyway. The dreamy smile on Zhou SiLangs face faded as he got up to grab a hoe. However, Datou and the others were not willing to work hard for free anymore. They all ran off to look for Indian pennywort, then plucked it and piled it together, planning to take it home to dry later. Zhou SiLang looked at the field where he was left alone and felt utterly disheartened. He knew ithow could Manbao not cause him any trouble? When they came back home for dinner, Zhou ErLang returned with Wulang and the others, excitedly telling the family, Ive asked the pharmacy. They said they collect Ligustrum seeds; if the quality is good, its sixty wen per pound, and even if not great, its at least forty wen. But it has to be dried. Zhou Dalang and the others got excited too. That price sounded more expensive than rice or flour. No wonder its valuable as medicine. Ms.Qian asked, Did you ask how to dry this thing? I asked. The pharmacy owner said you could fumigate it first or blanch it before drying. Keep drying it until its completely dried, and then theyll take it. As for how to fumigate it and blanch it, the owner didnt want to say too much. He mentioned that their pharmacy has a cooperation with professional herb gatherers, so these methods are the craft of those herb gatherers. If he told everything, the herb gatherers might be unhappy. Ms.Qian thoughtfully turned to Junior Ms.Qian and said, Tomorrow should be a sunny day; you dont have to go to the fields. Leave the stove free; well try both fumigation and blanching to see which method yields better quality. Junior Ms.Qian agreed. Ms.Qian then said to Zhou Dalang, The next two days, if youre free, go up to the hills to see if you can find more Ligustrum seeds. Just walk around outside, and dont go too deep. Zhou Dalang and the others were no longer children and knew the dangers. There were wild beasts and snakes in the mountainsthey didnt have the courage to venture too deep. Zhou Wulang and the younger ones were also plotting in their own room. He told Manbao, I went with Second Brother at the time, and there was a herb gatherer there. When he saw Second Brother asking about Ligustrum seeds, his face didnt look too happy. He snorted, Its not their familys business alone, why can they do it and not us? Zhou Liulang also said, Exactly. Someone copied our flower baskets and sold them these past two days, but their baskets didnt have sugar, so their business wasnt as good as ours. Weve been changing locations, which is why weve been able to sell out every day. Zhou Liulang was somewhat proud, but Zhou Wulang felt concerned, thinking that if this continued, they wouldnt be able to carry on with the flower basket business; they could only sell sugar. But the sugar business was theirs, and although there was no clear path forward, if the flower basket business went downhill, the family would surely not allow them to go to the county town anymore. Manbao also felt that the flower basket business probably couldnt last. As Keke had said, the market now had imitations, and once the supply outweighed demand, prices would surely drop, making it unprofitable. Manbao said, Then we need to come up with some other excuse to go to the county town. Zhou Wulang and the others deeply agreed, but this wasnt something that could be figured out immediately, so they decided to count their money. After counting the money, not only did Manbao give Zhou Wulang a packet of sugar for the next day, but she also gave him a handful of coins to buy chickens at the market. She said, Its hard to buy chickens in the village, nobody sells them anymore. Zhou Wulang asked, Manbao, do you want to eat chicken? A chicken is quite expensive. Its okay, I have money. Manbao was particularly generous, waving her hand and saying, Buy it to nourish Mother. Zhou Wulang and the others collectively swallowed hard, not hesitating to agree. He secured the money and motivated Manbao further, Manbao, are you really not considering selling more sugar? Manbao firmly shook her head, No, eating too much sugar is bad for the teeth. Moreover, the points for the Ligustrum seeds hadnt been tallied yet. She spent points every day without earning any, unsure when she would accumulate enough to buy medicine for her mother. In Manbaos eyes, money wasnt as important as points, and she had enough money for now anyway. Manbao was very satisfied with her current financial situation, and she didnt think making money was that difficult. She told Fifth Brother that they had found another type of medicinal herb, indicating that even if they couldnt sell the flower baskets, they could still sell medicinal herbs. For dinner that evening, the Zhou Family ate fish. Manbao drank a bowl of fish soup and contentedly lay down in bed. Unable to sleep for the moment, she flipped through the entries that had been input into the system before, browsing them one by one, and then strolled through the marketplace, paying close attention to her mothers medicine. Then, satisfied, she fell asleep and woke up the next morning full of energy for school. She had already forgotten about the argument she had had with Bai Shanbao yesterday. But Bai Shanbao remembered it because he had felt uncomfortable all night long. He didnt find any gold in the study, and his grandmother even laughed at him. His mother didnt give him money, and his grandmother also agreed with what Manbao had said; without finding gold, his grandmother still made fun of him! So as soon as Manbao arrived, he pushed the pastries he had taken from the kitchen that morning towards her, inviting her to eat. Chapter 75 - 75 64 You are Also Wrong (Extra as a Reward for the Reader Si Qing Lan Yu) ?75: Chapter 64: You are Also Wrong (Extra Chapter as a Reward for the Reader Si Qing Lan Yu) 75: Chapter 64: You are Also Wrong (Extra Chapter as a Reward for the Reader Si Qing Lan Yu) Manbao had already forgotten about yesterdays argument when she saw the pastries and remembered it again. However, she felt that as an adult, she should be generous. Keke had said that smart and capable people should have a big heart and know how to tolerate other peoples mistakes. So, she graciously accepted Shanbaos friendly gesture, opened the paper bag, took a piece of the pastry, and ate it with a look of satisfaction on her face. She even discussed with him, This is tastier than what the steward from Bai Erlangs family brought last time. This is my favorite pastry, it was made by the cook last night. If you like it, I can take you to my house after school to have some, Bai Shanbao said a bit ingratiatingly, Will you still come to my house to read books? Thinking it over, Manbao still wanted to see what a lot of books looked like, so she nodded and generously said, Alright, I forgive you. Were still friends. Seeing that Manbao brought up this topic, Bai Shanbao felt a bit embarrassed, but he still sincerely apologized to Manbao and acknowledged that what she said yesterday was right. Although they were just children, they should still have their own money. Only money that is earned can be fully controlled. Even though his mother would say that all the money in the house was his, he knew that he couldnt do whatever he wanted with it. But its different with money that one earns on their own. However, Bai Shanbao was not admitting to all the mistakes. He pointed out that Manbao was also to blame because fighting was not solely his fault, even if he was more at fault, she was not without blame. Although Manbao didnt feel that she was in the wrong, seeing his apology, she still reluctantly said sorry to him. The system, seeing this, said to her in her mind, Host, Bai Shan is right, you were also at fault in the argument. Manbao was genuinely unhappy now and asked, How was I at fault? The system asked her, Yesterday, Datou and Second Son were fighting over who should dry the Indian pennywort and then started arguing. Who do you think is at fault? Both of them are at fault. It was clearly Datou who snatched the Indian pennywort from Second Sons hands. Why do you think Second Son is also to blame? Datou had no bad intentions. He just thought that Second Son was drying it too slowly, so he wanted to help. Bai Shan also had no bad intentions. He just had a different opinion from you. Both of you can express your opinions. It doesnt matter in this world or even in the future, humans will always have different perspectives on the same issue due to differences in personality, education, and understanding. There is no one in this world who has exactly the same view on any matter, said the system. Therefore, having different opinions is a reasonable existence, and what you should seek is common ground. The main point is, you can debate, but you should not quarrel. The system said, Since youve argued, both of you are at fault. He is sincerely admitting his mistake, but you, host, are not sincere. Manbao knew that sometimes she couldnt quite understand what Keke said, but it always made sense, so she would write down her words and think them over, always ending up convinced. But this time, she understood without even needing to think and felt genuine shame. She reached out and took Bai Shanbaos hand, apologizing sincerely again, I was wrong yesterday too. Sorry. Bai Shanbao, who was already feeling ashamed and guilty, heard her and felt even more embarrassed. He also held her small hand, Manbao, youre really too kind. It wasnt right of me to criticize you. In fact, most of the fault was mine. I should be the one saying sorry. When Mr. Zhuang walked in with his books, he saw the two children in the front row holding hands and saying sorry to each other. He paused for a moment then walked up to the lectern, glancing at them. The two kids immediately sat properly, opening their textbooks. Mr. Zhuang was incredibly pleased, he had been ready to lecture the two children if they were still feeling wronged today, but before he even started his class, they had made up. Mr. Zhuang didnt feel like he had missed an opportunity to intervene. Instead, he thought that the two children were truly of good character and quick to understand, realizing their mistakes on their own. Todays lesson from Mr. Zhuang went particularly smoothly. He even told the whole class an ancient story about the tolerance and generosity of sages. While other students listened to it purely as a story, Manbao and Bai Shanbao did not, nor did they feel that the teacher was speaking directly to them. They just felt they were far from being saintly. Look, the ancients had broader minds than them. They, as descendants, should strive to be more incredible than their predecessors. Isnt there a saying that goes, The new waves of the Long River drive on the old waves? Mr. Zhuang, unaware that surpassing the sages and becoming the new generation of super sages was one of the goals for his two pupils, nodded in satisfaction seeing their teachable expressions. When Manbao was going to visit the Bai Family, Datou, as her little sidekick and temporary guardian, naturally followed along. Zhou ErLang had already made Manbao a small book box, which was really tiny. It could only fit two or three books along with a set of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, making it very light for Manbao to carry on her back. After putting her belongings into the small book box, Manbao followed Bai Shanbao to the Bai Familys home, bouncing along. Ms. Liu guessed that her grandson would bring the young lady from the Zhou Family over today, so she paced around the entrance, using the excuse of taking a walk to wait. Then, turning around, she saw two little beans carrying book boxes trotting towards her. The two children were chasing and play-fighting while walking, followed by an older child and their familys servant. Ms. Lius anxious heart settled down as she watched the two children approach with a smile. Bai Shanbao ran over holding Manbaos hand, tilting his head up to introduce his friend, Grandma, this is Manbao, her full name is Zhou Man, and shes my deskmate. Manbao raised her little head and called out, Hello, Grandma Liu. Ms. Lius face broke into a smile. She took Manbaos small hand, all smiles, My maiden name is Liu; you can just call me Grandma Liu from now on. A guest has come; please, come inside. Country residences arent as strict with formalities, but Ms. Liu was used to living in a large family, so she still took Manbao to pay respects to the Bai familys matriarch and Mrs. Bai in the back courtyard before leading them to the guest quarters. Datou, making his first visit to the Bai Family, felt constrained by the grandeur of the house and dared not stride too broadly. Manbao, however, was full of amazement. But being young, her eyes conveyed sheer curiosity, and she looked around boldly, even commenting to Bai Shanbao in wonder, The Bai Er familys house is really big. Bai Shanbao said, My house used to be even larger than this. How many people would it take to fill a house that big? Scratching his head, Bai Shanbao replied, There are just three of us in my family. Ms. Liu, with a smile, interrupted their conversation and led them into the living room for some pastries. She handed a piece to Manbao and gave one to Datou as well, inviting him to join them. But Bai Shanbao took away the pastry from Manbaos hand and picked out a different piece for her, urging her, This one tastes even better. Eat quickly, and after we finish, lets go to the study to read books. Manbao liked pastries, but she was more interested in books, so she finished her snack quickly and hopped off the tall stool obediently to bid farewell to Ms. Liu, ready to head to the study. Chapter 76 - 76 65 Your Thoughts ?76: Chapter 65: Your Thoughts 76: Chapter 65: Your Thoughts Bai Shanbao led Manbao to the book room in his home. It was a large book room, primarily intended for storing books; he had his own smaller book room, which was in the outer room of his bedroom. Before he grew up, this room was essentially used only for storing books. But once his family built their own house, they would certainly move out. The book room was in an especially good location, facing the sun and very spacious. Pushing the door open, you were immediately greeted by rows upon rows of bookshelves. There were many more than the two rows of bookshelves in Mr. Zhuangs. Manbao couldnt help but marvel; it was her first time seeing so many books. She ran up to them, only to gaze up at the shelves with her little head. They were too high; she couldnt reach many of the shelves. Bai Shanbao was only about half a head taller than her and shared this common interest with her. He whispered in her ear, My grandmother said theres gold in our books. I searched for ages yesterday and didnt find any. I almost forgot to do my homework. Manbaos eyes glittered as she asked, Is there a lot of gold? After thinking for a bit, Bai Shanbao replied, My grandmother has a whole room of it, so there should be plenty. Just as the system intended to scan in which book the gold was hidden: ... Watching the two kids start searching with zest, the system couldnt help saying, Host, ask him if what his grandmother said was, In books, one will find houses of gold.'' Manbao asked Shanbao. Shanbao nodded vigorously, Exactly, exactly. Theres an entire house of gold in my familys books. He had his own little schemes, because of what happened yesterday. He didnt tell his mother or grandmother, but he was willing to share with Manbao. He whispered, Once I find the gold, Im going to hide it. Then itll be my money. Manbao thought it was a good idea and asked him, If I help you find it, can you share a bit with me? Bai Shanbao agreed readily; this child had never lacked money and was very generous. Seeing the two children getting carried away again and all but forgetting about it, with Manbao rolling up her sleeves ready for action, the system intervened, Host, the meaning of in books, one will find houses of gold is that studying to pass exams and achieve scholarly honors is an excellent path to success. Upon achieving these honors, one naturally acquires wealth, prestige, and the company of women. Manbao was taken aback and relayed this to Bai Shanbao, adding at the end, I think this saying is odd; its different from what the teacher says. I dont like it. Bai Shanbao was concerned about, So, theres no gold in my familys books? Manbao said, Go ask your grandma. Bai Shanbao then pulled Manbao with him to find out. Datou was left in the living room by Ms. Liu, snacking and chatting, so Bai Shanbao quickly found his grandmother. When he asked, he discovered that what Manbao said was true. Ms. Liu hadnt expected her grandson to come around so quickly and couldnt help but take another glance at the little girl standing next to himsuch a clever child. She told Bai Shanbao, This saying was uttered by an ancestor. It means that books contain endless knowledge. If you master this knowledge, no matter whether you desire wealth, land, and housing, or beauties, they will come to you effortlessly. You say you want to earn money, but you are only five or six years old now. You cant lift heavy loads, you cant shoulder burdens, youre not proficient in reading, nor in arithmetic, and youre young. How can you earn money? Youd be better off settling down to study, to master knowledge. When you grow up, wealth will come naturally. Bai Shanbao felt sad, as if the gold that had been within his grasp had flown away. He couldnt take in what his grandmother was saying and ran off. Manbao quickly followed. Ms.Zheng was worried and about to follow, when Grandma Liu stopped her, saying, Let him go. He will come to understand on his own after some thought. She was really afraid of what her daughter-in-law might say next, that all of this was your fault. Bai Shanbao returned to the book room, sat down on the floor, and wept with heartache, while Manbao was quite happy, feeling that what Grandma Liu had said made more sense than what Keke had said. She said to Keke, The saying should mean what Grandma Liu said. The systems internal data quickly shifted, Host, historically, that saying should have been spoken by Zhao Heng. Regardless of whether its accurate or not, given the current level of productivity, this saying shouldnt have existed at all. The system fully retrieved the poem that contained the saying and showed it to Manbao. After reading it once, Manbao disdained it, Is this even considered poetry? Though she hadnt been studying poetry for long, she knew the basic rhythms, and whether a poem felt good or not was something one could discern by feeling. She felt this poem was not good. The system said, Its not good, its been criticized for not even rising to the level of light verse. But because the poet was an emperor, it survived. The system scanned the books in the book room again and told Manbao, At this time, this emperor has not yet appeared. Manbao didnt care about that; she just squatted down to console Shanbao, Dont be sad. The person who said that wasnt very capable, so what he said might not be accurate either. Lets not think about making money from studying. Lets start earning now. Bai Shanbao looked up at her, his eyes red, How do we earn? Pulling up Indian pennywort, of course. You can come with me to pick it in the future. After it dries, Ill have my fourth brother take it to sell at the herbal shop, and then youll have money. Bai Shanbao thought this made sense; he couldnt just listen to his grandmother. Wiping his tears, he said, I wont study anymore. That way Ill have more time to pull Indian pennywort. Manbao looked at him in surprise, Why wont you study? After a pause, she asked, Are you really short on money? If you are, I can lend you some, all right? But youll have to pay me back once youve earned money. Bai Shanbao paused and scratched his head, It seems like Im not short on money. If youre not short on money, why wont you study? Isnt it what you said, that maybe what my grandmother said isnt correct, that studying doesnt earn money? Manbao replied, Even if studying doesnt earn money, studying can still make you happy, and it can help you understand morals. Are you studying just to make money? Bai Shanbao actually didnt know why he was studying. After thinking for a moment, he said, My mother tells me I study to bring honor to my ancestors, and my grandmother says I study to carry on my fathers aspirations. Manbao looked at him, and Shanbao also looked at her. The two children sat on the floor, leaning against the bookshelves and facing each other. Manbao could only tell him why she studied. I find studying fun. I get to know a lot of things others dont, and I can also read many interesting stories from books, Manbao said, The teacher says studying helps us understand morals. I want to be a sensible person, so I study. Manbao told Bai Shanbao, You need to think for yourself why you study. My parents whispered behind my back that after I study, theyll marry me off to lead a good life in our county, but I dont want to be married off there, and I havent told them. Manbao added, We should listen to what adults say but not everything blindly. My friend says adults arent always right, so you need to have your own thoughts. You need to have your own thoughts! This was the first time Bai Shanbao had heard such a thing. Since he was young, his grandmother, mother, and teacher had all told him why he should study and what he should do. No one had ever encouraged him to have his own ideas. They wouldnt let him climb trees, play with water, or sleep insince childhood, they had never allowed him to have his own ideas. Whose words, parents or peers, should one take to heart? Obviously, those of a peer! Bai Shanbaos eyes sparkled as he began to think with his small brain. Chapter 77 - 77 66 Stealth ?77: Chapter 66 Stealth 77: Chapter 66 Stealth Ms. Liu stood at the doorway of the study for a long time, watching as the two children began to look for books on the ground, but there were few books that children of their age could comprehend, especially since the books were not punctuated. The two kids flipped through the pages, then stuffed them back and continued to flip through other books one by one. Fortunately, both children cherished the books, knowing how rare they were, and always handled them gently. Having watched them for a while, Ms. Liu turned and left, pondering over what Manbao had said, her thoughts tumultuous and unsettled. After some time, the children realized they couldnt understand any of the books and felt somewhat angry. Manbao stopped flipping through the pages and, with hands clasped behind her back, began to walk up and down the rows of shelves. Then, she curiously asked Bai Shanbao, upon seeing the bamboo strips and the beautiful cloth placed on the high shelves. Bai Shanbao glanced at them and said, Those are bamboo slips and brocade. Before the invention of paper, or when paper was of poor quality, people would write on bamboo slips and brocade. Grandmother says these were left by our ancestors and are very precious. Manbao asked curiously, Can I see them? In fact, Bai Shanbao had not seen them himself because his grandmother prohibited him from tampering with them, so he had deliberately placed these items out of reach. His eyes twinkling, he said, Of course, you can. Youre my friend, after all. The two buddies dragged a chair over, with Manbao steadying it for him while Bai Shanbao climbed up and reached out but found he was still unable to touch them. The children looked at each other and, after wandering around the room searching for something, finally turned their attention to the books at the bottom of the shelf. Manbao and Bai Shanbao grabbed the books and began to pile them up, one on top of the other. Then Bai Shanbao took off his shoes and socks, climbed onto the chair, and stepped on the books, tiptoeing to reach the bamboo slips just above. The bamboo slips were heavy, and Bai Shanbao almost fell off, but Manbao, on tiptoe, supported his waist. He wobbled for a moment before pulling out the bamboo slips and handing them to Manbao, who hugged them to her chest. She placed them on the ground, and then they moved the chair together to reach the brocade on the other side. The brocade, rolled up but much lighter, was quickly taken down by Bai Shanbao. The two first unrolled the bamboo slips and spread them out to look at the characters written on them. They discovered they couldnt recognize a single character on them. Staring wide-eyed at the characters, they felt the engravings, and Manbao excitedly pointed at one, exclaiming, This looks like a person! Oh! Shanbao also quickly picked up the pattern, pointing at another character, saying, This looks like fire... The two found amusement in this and thought it more interesting than reading books, enthusiastically searching for pictographic meanings in the characters. It was only when the voices of Datou and the servants came from outside that they were startled by how much time had passed and that it was almost dark. But they hadnt looked at the brocade yet. Feeling guilty, Bai Shanbao quickly grabbed the brocade and climbed onto the chair, trying to replace it where it came from. He realized it wasnt easy to put back the bamboo slips either, as the items were too heavy. It was manageable to take them down, but not to put them back up. The servants and Datou were already urging them from outside. They could not enter the study, so they could only call out to them from outside. Manbao hurriedly responded, tugging at Shanbao and whispered, Hide it here. Bai Shanbao and Manbao then replaced the books one by one back onto the shelf, and hid the bamboo slips behind the books, which at a first glance, wouldnt be noticed. After completing their mischief, the children dragged the chair back to its place and glanced at each other, unable to help but cover their mouths and giggle, before scurrying to open the door. Their cheery demeanor in the eyes of the servants and Datou merely indicated they had enjoyed their time reading. Seeing this, both Datou and the servants also became happy. Datou was the happiest, as he had eaten many snacks that afternoon and seen various beautiful flowers in the garden. Bai Shanbao and a servant walked the nephew and niece pair out, with Bai Shanbao holding Manbaos small hand, saying, You have to come over to my place again tomorrow. Manbao assured there would be no problem and also reminded him, Think about it when you have time. If you dont understand, go ask the teacher. The teacher knows a lot. Shanbao nodded. Then everyone went their separate ways, heading back to their own homes to see their own mothers. Returning to the Zhou Family home, Junior Ms. Qian had just finished preparing dinner, and the atmosphere was especially warm, with everyone wearing happy faces. Upon seeing this, Manbao hurriedly entered the house with her book box, then hopped around after her mother, asking, Mother, do we have some good news in our family? Ms. Qian tapped her little nose and said, Youre sharp. The privet fruit has been scalded and dried in the sun for a day, and its starting to look good. Your brothers found several more privet plants in the woods that arent ripe yet. They plan to pick them after drying the current batch. Ms. Qian estimated the potential quantity and felt that they should have a source of income by winter. It was just the right time, as Eldest and Second Sons families needed new blankets, and Manbao also needed a warmer set of clothes for school. Every family member was earning money, even Second Son had gathered a lot of Indian pennywort to dry today, but Zhou Silang was a little downcast. Manbao, squatting next to him, saw this and comforted him, Silang, dont worry, next year your fields will yield a big profit. Zhou Silang felt that hope was slim. Ms. Qian didnt have much time to soothe her sons soul as she was busy with many tasks. Knowing that they could sell the privet fruit and had devised a method to dry it, she decided to make it a significant source of future family income. She instructed her second son, Take advantage of these few days you have free to make a row of shelves, and also a few larger winnowing baskets, the round kind that can sit on top of the shelves, to be used exclusively for drying the privet fruit. Zhou Er promised it was no problem. Having given that directive, she then told Eldest and Two, You guys walk around more in the next few days, not only to keep an eye on the privet fruit in the mountains but also to look for more elsewhere. If you find any, note down their locations. Manbao interjected, Elder Brother, Third Brother, if you see any plants outside that we dont have, bring some back for me, okay? Zhou Dalang responded with a laugh, but in their eyes, all the plants and flowers in the mountains looked the same, with nothing different. They also couldnt understand why their sister liked pulling up those plants so much, so they agreed, but whether they would do it was another matter. Manbao, unaware she was being dismissed, happily continued to chat with the gloomy Silang, who was getting very annoyed with her. After Ms. Qian finished instructing the main household tasks, she called Datou to inquire about their visit to the Bai Family. Knowing that he had spent the afternoon eating snacks, Ms. Qian shot him a look and sighed, Next time your auntie goes to the Bai Family, just escort her to their gate and no further. When its time for dinner here, you can go and pick her up. Datou reluctantly agreed, not daring to disobey his grandmother. Ms. Qian then instructed Junior Ms. Qian to prepare several cabbages and some eggs tomorrow, for Datou to take along with Manbao to the Bai Family, as a reciprocal gesture. Junior Ms. Qian acknowledged the request. With all matters settled, Ms. Qian leaned back in her chair and called her young daughter over, smiling and asking her, What did you learn from your teacher today? Chapter 78 - 78 67 Warning (Extra update for 20,000 recommended votes from Yunqi) ?78: Chapter 67: Warning (Extra update for 20,000 recommended votes from Yunqi) 78: Chapter 67: Warning (Extra update for 20,000 recommended votes from Yunqi) Manbao happily replied and added, Daya and the others are also learning characters quickly; now they can all write the name of our county, village, and their own names. Junior Ms. Qian nodded with a smile, saying, Then you should teach them more. Theres no need to learn poetry and essays; recognizing some characters is enough. The most important thing is to understand numbers, knowing how to calculate is what really matters. Ms. Qian had her own wisdom. Its better if one can read, but even if not, one must know how to count to avoid being taken advantage of when shopping. Manbao indicated that she would teach them all of that. Ms. Qian then patted her on the head, encouraging her to study hard, Dont worry about household affairs. Your mothers health has improved a lot. All you need to do is grow up healthy and strong. Manbao didnt quite understand why her mother said this, but she nodded happily anyway. Ms. Qian said, Alright, your Fifth Brother has brought back your chickens. Go have a look. Only then did Manbao realize why her mother said what she did. She playfully wrapped her arms around her mothers shoulders and said, Mom, Ill be healthy, and you need to be healthy too. Then she hopped off to see her chickens. In the corner outside the chicken coop were two chicken cages. Manbao ran over and immediately noticed the chickens inside the cages, causing her to freeze in surprise. In each cage was a chicken, the cages quite far apart from one another, but the chickens looked similar C bedraggled, with many bloody patches from being pecked. Manbao approached, and the frightened birds shrank their necks and trembled, making Manbao seem like a bully. Manbao squatted in front of the cages to examine the chickens. They looked so familiar. After a glance at the two chickens, she went looking for her Fifth Brother. Zhou Wulang was counting money. Not all of todays flower baskets had sold, so the earnings were a bit less than on the previous days. After counting once, he wrote down a note in his little booklet and then handed it to Manbao to count. Manbao didnt bother with the money for the moment and asked, Fifth Brother, did you buy these chickens from a cockfighter? Yes, Zhou Wulang said matter-of-factly. Didnt you say Mom didnt want to eat the chicken you brought back? I figured its useless to buy a hen that doesnt lay eggs because if it starts laying after we feed it, Mom still wouldnt want to eat it. So, I went to buy fighting chickens. Theyre already in such bad shape; they wouldnt survive much longer anyway. Might as well kill and eat them. Zhou Wulang winked at her and boasted, And they were cheap, two for the price of one. Manbao couldnt help but give him a thumbs-up, Fifth Brother, youre so smart. She swallowed hard and asked, Then why dont we kill one tonight? Mom said it was too late, the evening meal was already prepared. Well do it tomorrow. Zhou Wulang sighed, She also said if I help you waste money again, she wont let me go to town anymore, Manbao. You better find someone else for buying chickens in the future. Manbao humphed, If you wont help me, Ill buy them in the village. She turned her eyeballs and smiled, I already have a plan. Zhou SiLang asked curiously, What plan? Im not telling you. Manbao bent her head to count the money, not only working out their private accounts but also calculating the part owed to the public fund. Then she divided the money amongst everyone and recorded it in the ledger. Zhou Wulang watched with envy, Manbao, how on earth did you get such a brain? Ive been studying for so long, and I still cant figure out how to calculate the part for the public fund. Manbao said, Diligence can make up for dullness. When youre free, just pick two random numbers and calculate. As time goes by, youll get it. Keke said that this is mental arithmetic, which can train peoples brain and logical thinking C simply speaking, it makes smart people smarter and the not-so-smart less so, or even a bit smarter. When Manbao was younger and had nothing to play with, her favorite pastime was playing this game with Keke. She would quiz Keke, and then Keke would quiz her. Thats why she was the best in the family at counting. Having recorded everything in the ledger, Manbao safely stored away the money entrusted to her by everyone, then casually threw out a couple of math problems for them to solve for fun. Adding and subtracting two-digit numbers, even Zhou SiLang couldnt help but break into a sweat. Manbao taught them, First, use your fingers; if you run out of fingers, use your toes. Once youve done it enough, youll eventually get it without having to count on your fingers. But we dont have enough fingers and toes combined, do we? Then count someone elses, Manbao said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. I often borrowed Daddys fingers and toes to count. Look, I no longer need to borrow his fingers and toes now. The brothers and nephews were all stunned, never realizing that their Dad (Grandpa) had his fingers and toes borrowed like this by their youngest aunt (little uncle). At dinner, Old Zhou felt that Four, Five, Sixth, and several grandchildren looked at him strangely, and couldnt help touching his face, asking, Do I have rice on my face? The ones stealing glances immediately shook their heads and strangely lowered their heads to eat their meal. Manbao was oblivious to all this, focusing on stuffing her rice bowl; she always had a good appetite and ate a lot. Ms. Qian would restrain the meals of her grandsons and granddaughters, including Datou, but she could not bear to let her little girl go hungry, always letting her eat her fill. Manbao knew not to waste food. Once the last grain of rice in her bowl was scraped clean, she put down her bowl and dutifully said, Mom, Im full. Ms. Qian glanced outside, and seeing it was still light, told her to go teach Datou and the others to recognize characters. A group of children scampered into the yard, playing while learning characters. They continued until the last sliver of sunlight disappeared, and darkness fell. Only then did they stop recognizing characters and started to recite the Thousand Character Classic that Manbao had taught them head-waggingly. The melodious sound of reading reached the village, where someone looking towards the Zhou Familys direction enviously remarked, Zhou Jins family is going to produce a scholar. Come off it, a child teaching a few sentences, its not even certain they recognize the words. If it were so easy to become a scholar, the world would be full of them by now, wouldnt it? What do you know? As long as they recognize characters and can count, they can be accountants in the county. Just watch. If their girl can study in school for seven or eight years and teach what shes learned to her brothers and nephews, in less than ten years, their family will be different from ours. He sighed, Such a fine girl, why was she born into their household? As he spoke, he looked at his wife with a very disdainful glance, his spouse, bristling with indignation, planted her hands on her hips and retorted, You also dont see who their father is. Is it that I cant give birth? Its your seed thats no good! Their children curiously watched their parents. The couple was just about to quarrel, but the elder sitting above tapped the table with his pipe and scolded, Why all the ruckus? Thats our Zhou familys bloodline, and only one or two good seedlings have emerged over a few hundred years. Shouldnt they be allowed to prosper? He couldnt reprimand his daughter-in-law, so he scolded his son instead, Watch your mouth, dont talk nonsense outside. If I hear anything unsavory... His son hung his head and obediently responded. Chapter 79 - 79 68 Rumors ?79: Chapter 68: Rumors 79: Chapter 68: Rumors But there were those families who just wouldnt give in, and Manbaos neighbours listened to the bustle next door, starting a fight out of frustration, muttering under their breath, Good-for-nothings with no upbringing, always noisy, cant you keep it quiet for just a moment? What are you saying? Zhou Dayuan glared at her, chased away their curious grandchildren who were staring at them, and then said, Id like to see you keep talking if youre not afraid of your aunt blocking your door. The gaunt old lady started ranting and raving, but she too lowered her voice. She was about the same age as Ms. Qian; both had married into Qili Village one after the other. Dont be fooled by Ms. Qians demeanor now, spending all day at home doting on her grandchildren, and always smiling gently at the neighbors. She was fierce in her youth. Seven or eight years ago, she was the village bully, and even the village chiefs daughter-in-law didnt dare to provoke her. The Zhou Family, including Zhou Jin, used to be so poor, but she managed to lift them up. Although people in the village often said she was a financial burden on the Zhou family with her medical expenses, everyone knew deep down that she was the backbone of the Zhou family and the reason they rose up. But she still felt a bit resentful, and this resentment stemmed from jealousy and grievances that had accumulated since her youth. When Manbao started school, and the Zhou family became more bustling by the day, reaching its peak, she might have lowered her voice when cursing others, yet deliberately smacked her stick with a clack clack against the door and table, shouting in the direction of Old Zhous home: Its already dark, why arent you sleeping and still wandering outside? Youll go up the mountain to gather firewood tomorrow, cant even find a proper job, you deserve to stay poor! The houses in the village were all built some distance apart, considering that the children would eventually need space to build their own homes, which would require approval for residential land. So there was an intentional gap between each household. Therefore, the houses behind and to the left and right of Manbaos home were all a certain distance away. But this distance was limited, and the houses were not soundproof, so if someone talked a little louder in their yard, it could be heard by the neighbors. At that moment, Manbao could hear it, but she didnt realize that her sister-in-law next door was beating around the bush with her complaints. Manbao, feeling particularly sympathetic, looked over at Zhou Dayuans home with a grown-up sigh, Dayuans wife is scolding Dalv again. Really, you should praise children when teaching them, how can you always scold them? Zhou Silang and the others: ... You should call her sister-in-law, dont always say Dayuans wife, Dayuans wife. Shes about as old as your mother. Isnt she just Dayuans wife? Its just a name, dont take it so seriously, Manbao ran to find her three sisters-in-law, saying to them, Sisters-in-law, dont be like Dayuans wife. You should praise Datou and Daya, dont always scold them. I think Dalv has become dumber because of his mothers scolding. The three sisters-in-law responded with a laugh, glancing sternly at the happy children including Datou and Daya, deciding to go back inside and educate them further. Old Zhou then turned to his wife and said, Manbao must have learned this from you. Teach her not to call out like that in public. Ms. Qian nonchalantly replied, Dont worry, our girl isnt stupid. She added, Look, does she call Dagus wife like that? No, she calls her sister-in-law. The child knows exactly what shes doing, who to call sister-in-law and who not to, she has a clear sense of it. Old Zhou watched his spouse look disdainfully in the direction of Zhou Dayuans home and had the children go out to catch fireflies, making the courtyard even livelier. At the same time, the commotion from Dayuans home grew louder, and the smile on Ms. Qians face widened. Old Zhou pulled back his head, deciding to say nothing more. While the children were having fun on one side, the atmosphere in Zhou Dayuans home was tense, the children inside hardly daring to breathe, and Dalvs wife couldnt help but mutter softly, Mom really is... telling us to sleep, but then she makes such a racket outside, how can we sleep through this noise? Dalv remained silent. Dalvs wife continued, The other family is just playing in their own yard, isnt that perfectly fine? If mom didnt make all that racket, wed fall asleep even faster with all the laughter from outside... Alright then, if youre so capable, go and tell mom that, Dalv challenged. Dalvs wife, indignantly, turned her back to cuddle with the child and put him to sleep, ignoring him. Her child then quietly asked Dalvs wife, Mom, why doesnt grandma like Manbao? Dalvs wife responded, Because shes smart! Dog-Egg was surprised, Being smart isnt good? Its good, but not good if its not your own family. After saying this, Dalvs wife glanced at Dalv. Faced flushed with anger, Dalv couldnt help but slap her, What nonsense are you talking about? What nonsense? Isnt it true? Mom is just jealous of Old Zhous family, jealous of Auntie Qian, always indirectly insulting me by saying I cant have kids, that I give birth to a bunch of shit-for-brains. Id love to have a Golden Egg or a Silver Egg, someone as smart as Manbao. Do you have what it takes? Dalvs wife had been holding back her anger, and with her mother-in-law continuing the racket outside, she exploded, no longer caring that the children were nearby, firing questions at him like a machine gun, And did you ever look at what her father is like compared to you? Do you think I can just decide to have one? With his eyes reddening in fury, Dalv spat out without thinking, Her mother is a scholars daughter, are you? Oh, please, if he says so, it must be true. Nobodys even seen her mothers family... After a quarrel, Dog-Egg and his siblings hid under the quilt, their eyes shining brightly. Dog-Egg, who was eight years oldonly a year younger than Datouunderstood things, so the next day he excitedly went to find his friends and whispered, Manbao wasnt born from her parents! Kids are the worst at keeping secrets, and in less than half a day, most of the children in the village had heard this gossip. Second Son, who loved playing with friends most, had his friends come to quietly ask him, Is your aunt born from your grandfather? Second Son proudly replied, Of course not. The children were shocked, but Second Son looked down on them, saying, How could a man give birth? My aunt is born from my grandma. Hey, that made sense to everyone. So someone countered the argument, saying that although Manbao might not be born from her father, she was indeed born from her mother! By the time Datou heard the rumor, it had already made two rounds in the village, but only among the kids; older children hadnt heard it. Thus, Datou tracked down Dog-Egg, the source of the rumor, and after confronting him, gave Dog-Egg a beating, saying, You look neither like your dad nor your mom; youre definitely not born from your parents! With a bloody nose and crying, Dog-Egg shouted back, Youre lying, my parents said it themselves, your aunt isnt born from your grandparents, my grandma also said that nobody taught your aunt, isnt that the same as having no parents? Infuriated, Datou hit him again, saying, Youre the one who hasnt been taught, been taught to spread such rumors? Chapter 80 - 80 69 Visiting ?80: Chapter 69: Visiting 80: Chapter 69: Visiting Dog-Egg cried all the way home to his grandmother, while Datou, not at all afraid of him, also ran back to his grandmother, Grandma, someone outside is speaking ill of Little Aunt! Ms.Qians eyebrows knit slightly, What was said, and who said it? Dog-Eggs grandmother said Little Aunt wasnt born to Grandpa and Grandma! The smile on Ms.Qians face fell, and she set aside the shoe pad she was halfway through making, pushing herself up from the chair to look outside. Just then, Zhou Dayuans daughter-in-law, Ms.Zhang, had also dragged her grandson, Dog-Egg, over in a rage. Fights among the children in the village were common, but it was another thing to beat a child until their nose bled. And it wasnt just Ms.Zhang who would be angry, any ordinary family would be. Ms.Zhang had always been on bad terms with Ms.Qian and certainly wasnt going to let this matter slide, Seeing her grandson beaten up like this, she didnt even ask why before dragging the boy over to demand an explanation. But she had yet to speak up and accuse when Ms.Qian preemptively said, Youve come at just the right time. I heard from my older grandson that your little grandson said you claimed that Manbao is not my child? Ms.Zhang suddenly snapped to attention. Then lets go to the village heads house and please have the village elders clarify whether or not Manbao is indeed born to me. Ms.Zhang turned pale and looked down at her grandson, uncertain whether he had overheard her whispering with the old man. Although Ms.Zhang was feeling somewhat guilty at this point, her anger was even greater, Auntie Qian, who knows where the child heard such nonsense? But I never said such a thing, and no matter what, your Datou shouldnt have hit our Dog-Egg. Hes a whole year older than Dog-Egg! Ms.Qian retorted, The words came from your grandson. He says you said them. Ms.Zhang was left at a loss for words. Ms.Qian then looked down at Datou and ordered, Go up the mountain and call your grandfather and your father back. Were going to the village heads house. Ms.Zhang now became somewhat flustered, Auntie Qian, its just two kids fighting. Your family might have the face to make a fuss at the village heads, but mine certainly does not. If it were just about two kids fighting, Datou having hit Dog-Egg, I would certainly teach him a lesson myself. But this also concerns my daughter Manbao. I want you to declare in front of the whole village whether Manbao is my child or not, whether youve been spreading rumors, or if Ive been unfaithful to Zhou Jin behind his back? Ms.Zhang was livid, almost blurting out something she would regret. Who didnt know whose child Zhou Man was in the entire village? But meeting Ms.Qians gaze, Ms.Zhang didnt dare say anything rash. Ms.Qian changed her usual cordial demeanor and forcefully dragged Ms.Zhang to the village heads house. Because of this dispute, many heads of households in the village were called back from the fields, and many children ran to join the commotion. Although Ms.Qian wanted the children to witness the event, she ultimately didnt wish for things to get too ugly, as that would work against Manbaos interest. So she sent the children away, allowing only the elders and heads of households to stay. Manbao was utterly unaware of all this; at the moment, she was quietly chatting with Bai Shanbao. Bai Shanbao said, Ive been thinking, I need to become very powerful, very powerful, and for that I need to study. I want to study to become powerful. Manbao asked him, How powerful do you need to be to be considered powerful? Bai Shanbao had thought long and hard about this the previous night, so he answered, More powerful than the head of our Bai Family, more powerful than everyone in the Bai Family, so that no one can bully me, or bully my grandmother and mother anymore. He wasnt studying for the sake of his ancestors glory or to fulfill his late fathers wishes. Regarding the former, he didnt feel that there was any glory worth perpetuating, and regarding the latter, he had little memory of his father, who only existed in the stories told by his grandmother and mother. He told Manbao in a hushed voice, When I was studying at the clan school, because I didnt have a father, they always bullied me. Even the tutor, because I have no father, deemed me wrong in every dispute, and people would curse me for lacking in manners. He snorted in discontent, Im not lacking in manners at all! Since I was young, my grandmother has taught me many principles, all of which I have remembered. Manbao was indignant, Theyre really mean! Bai Shanbao nodded, But they are not the worst. The worst are those uncles, aunties, and the clan head. Because I have no father, they want to take our familys property. My mother said that property is to be saved for my education and marriage. Bai Shanbao still remembered how he had hidden behind a screen, watching his grandmother beg those people, his eyes filled with hatred and defiance. He gritted his teeth and said, My mother told me, the clan head is the Prefect of Jingzhou, and Fifth Granduncle is an imperial censor in the capital, so both their families have enough confidence to talk about taking over our property. Hmph, I want to become even more powerful than them, to hold an office even greater than theirs. Manbao applauded him, Youll definitely succeed. The imperial examination is nothing difficult. Bai Shanbao looked at her, How would you know that? Manbao replied confidently, I guessed. We are smart people, after all. She had also asked Keke, Are the imperial exams difficult? The system replied, Not easy! Manbaos eyes widened in surprise, Didnt you say that Shanbao and I are very smart? The system clarified, There are many smart people in this world, and even more who are diligent and smart. This year, only twenty were accepted as Jinshi, and ninety-eight for the Ming Classic. Bai Shanbao is very smart, but hes young, and its not certain whether he will be diligent or not. Studying does not depend solely on talent. Manbao earnestly advised Bai Shanbao, You must study diligently, otherwise, even if the exams are not difficult, you wont pass them. She felt somewhat sheepish for having hastily drawn conclusions earlier. Changing her statement now would not only undermine her authority but could also demotivate her friend. Seizing the moment, the system educated her, Thats why you should draw conclusions only after investigation in the future. There is a saying by the ancients, Without investigation, there is no right to speak.'' Manbao inquired, Which ancient person said that? To me, he is an ancient, but to the host, he is a descendant. Manbao nodded, Ah, so it is a saying from my descendants. The system couldnt help but fall silent. Now with no other choice, Manbao could only urge Bai Shanbao to read more, to apply himself more; otherwise, if he failed the imperial examinations in the future, how could she explain to him? Therefore, Manbao also studied extra diligently alongside him. Of course, because she was younger and her pace was slower, her routine involved reading and then asking him to explain. But Manbao wouldnt let her questions interrupt him. She believed the tutor was right: revisiting the old could bring new insights. As she asked him for explanations, he was also reviewing, naturally gaining new knowledge every time. After school in the afternoon, Manbao, carrying her Small book box, followed Bai Shanbao out of the classroom. They were still discussing the interpretation of a passage from the Analects that she had asked him about, so they didnt notice that Datou hadnt come to pick her up. Talking as they walked, the two naturally ended up at the Bai Family residence. After paying their respects to Ms.Liu, they went to the study to read. They took out the bamboo scrolls hidden behind the books, curiously examined them, then returned them to their place before looking around for more books. Manbao felt that they would have to read many, many books if they wanted to pass the imperial examinations. So, even if some texts seemed incomprehensible, they had to read them. Of course, to avoid overwhelming themselves, they would start with books that interested them.