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Chapter 50: Enticement

Zhou Wulang explained, “Take our village for example. To get to the county town, we pass through four villages along the way. The typical travel time is two hours. So we need to set out by the latest at the Mao hour(5am-7am). We’ll reach the next village around two subdivisions into the Mao hour. If we arrive early, we wait at their village entrance until that time subdivision before calling out – if no one responds, it means no travel companions and we can proceed.”

The little companions listened intently. Man Bao even raised her little hand to ask, “Then why didn’t we wait for others the last time we went?”

“We had many adults going from our family that time, no need to deliberately team up. Your eldest brothers Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang were adults, while Wulang, Liulang were youths. Even Da Ya and Er Ya were bigger kids – who would dare accost us?”

But for solo travelers or just two or three on the road, teaming up was convenient for both parties.

Continuing this way, they’d pause at each village entrance while villagers from other villages would also arrive early to wait at intersections. Just on this one trip, Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang witnessed how the villagers coordinated with each other.

Excitedly, he told Man Bao, “Liulang and I felt we could go to the county town market every day!”

Delighted, Man Bao ran back to her room and took out a bag of sugar from Ke Ke, simply wrapping it in oiled paper before bringing it out to Zhou Wulang with solemn words, “Fifth Brother, I’m entrusting our money-making plan to you.”

Zhou Wulang snuck a peek inside, barely containing his excitement as he cradled the oiled paper. “Little Sister, have no worries.”

Since they were surrounded by Zhou Silang, Zhou Liulang and the other children, the adults could only hear their words but not see their hands or the object they held.

Old Master Zhou felt his fifth and sixth sons were growing up and could consider their prospects and marriages, so he was willing to give them some leeway to go out and experience the world. Even if unsuccessful, gaining some worldly experience at no cost was fine.

Da Tou and the others knew they had a stake in this business venture too – their uncles’ earnings were theirs too, filling them with determination.

Only Zhou Silang felt endlessly melancholic to only watch from the sidelines, unable to even join the discussion, let alone participate.

Aware the issue of sugar shouldn’t be known to their parents, Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang covered for each other to take the item back to their room and hide it before coming out again, excitedly planning their money-making endeavors.

Man Bao kept pitching one idea after another, plausible or not – just saying them for everyone to discuss.

The system couldn’t help but say in her mind, “Host, your shopping mall is now open.”

Man Bao replied indifferently with an “mm” before continuing to explain the plan to sell flower baskets to Zhou Wulang and the others the next day.

The system fell silent for a moment before suddenly projecting something in her mind – a transparent bottle containing a green liquid. Man Bao found it quite pretty, finally catching her attention.

Full of interest, she asked, “Ke Ke, what is this?”

The system replied, “Estimated to be a medicinal cure for your mother’s illness, effective in one dose.”

Man Bao’s eyes widened as she immediately said, “I want to buy it, I want to buy it. Ke Ke, quickly purchase it!”

The system said, “You have no money.”

Man Bao paused before hurriedly checking the price, seeing rows of zeros.

Nearly deflated with disappointment, Man Bao sighed heavily.

But the system then encouraged her, “Although the required points seem extremely far for the host, as long as you persist, there’s still a high chance of eventually purchasing it. This is a newly listed medicine in the mall that I understand will be available long-term.”

Man Bao’s spirits lifted. “So as long as I can afford it eventually, I can buy it anytime?”

The system replied, “Yes!”

Finally cheered up, Man Bao asked, “Ke Ke, tell me how to earn points?”

“Get your brothers to help. Do you remember that ligustrum tree we saw on our county town trip? Have them collect a few branches with the berries. I estimate recording the ligustrum would earn dozens of points. Little by little, there’s a chance of eventual success.”

The system gently enticed, “Think about it – if you could record one organism never recorded before every day, that’s at least fifty points each. For already extinct species, it could be hundreds or thousands of points. There are 365 days in a year – if you persist for a year, calculate how many points that would be?”

Man Bao counted on her fingers. One hundred days was five thousand points, three hundred days fifteen thousand points…

Her eyes widened as she became excited, her little body quivering as everyone looked on nervously. Zhou Wulang carefully reached out to poke her.

Man Bao grabbed his finger, eyes shining as she looked at him. “Fifth Brother, you have to promise me something. If you do, I’ll buy you a bag of sugar every day from now on.”

Zhou Wulang’s heart pounded as he asked tentatively, “You…you want…”

“Help me dig up flowers and plants.”

Zhou Wulang and everyone else finally relaxed with laughter. “Okay, whatever you want, just tell Fifth Brother and I’ll dig them up for you even if I have to climb mountains and cross seas!”

“No need for mountains yet,” Man Bao said. “Just the hill we rested at on our county town trip will do. Don’t you remember?”

She described the ligustrum’s appearance and berries. “Fifth Brother, help me collect two branches with the berries on your way back home tomorrow.”

“Just this?”

“No, I’ll tell you if I think of anything new to find later.”

Zhou Wulang saw no issue with some flowers and plants, thumping his chest. “No problem. But Little Sister, what do you want those branches for? I told you the berries are inedible.”

“Medicinal herbs, I have a use for them.”

“Medicinal herbs?” Zhou Wulang scratched his head, not understanding but still nodding in agreement.

Xiao Qian Shi and the others reheated the dinner dishes to serve. Old Master Zhou rapped the table, calling the children over from the courtyard to eat.

“You said you wanted writing lessons, but all I heard was idle chatter all afternoon.”

Only then did Man Bao and the others remember they hadn’t practiced writing yet that day.

Unable to resist, Man Bao tilted her little head in lament, “I’m really too busy!”

“Yes, busy recuperating too.” Qian Shi glanced at her forehead, now blackened, and said, “No more fighting from now on. What if your head gets cracked and you become a fool?”

“That won’t happen, I’ll never become a fool.” Man Bao was full of confidence – she had Ke Ke in her mind who would surely protect her intellect.

On this, Man Bao was especially confident.

Chapter 49: Compensation

“Your fifth uncle, however, was quite the scholar and official, becoming a censor in the capital at a young age. It’s just unfortunate that he was struck by a stray arrow while campaigning east with the late emperor and perished. As for your husband and his brother’s generation, need I mention your husband’s studies?”

Ashamed, Old Master Bai lowered his head.

“But Bai Qi was a true scholarly seedling, passing the imperial examinations at a tender age. Had fortune favored him, we might have had to rely on his family instead,” Old Lady Bai said. “Don’t just look at how young Shanbao is now, he has already shown his distinction. How old is he this year, yet he has the Analects completely memorized. Ask your son if he can recite even the first chapter.”

Bai Erlang immediately shrank back, saying nothing.

Old Lady Bai continued, “Setting aside such interests, just considering our bond…” She gripped Old Master Bai’s hand tightly, tears falling. “She is not only your sister-in-law but your maternal aunt. We were raised together as parent-cousins under the same grandparents. We few brothers and sisters are all who remain in this world. Treat them as your own maternal family and care for this widow and orphan wholeheartedly.”

These words were clearly directed at Lady Bai.

Lady Bai immediately knelt to apologize, vowing, “Rest assured Mother, the Old Master and I will properly serve Aunt and Young Master from now on.”

She turned to reprimand Bai Erlang, “Erlang, no more bullying your cousin. If I hear you bully him again, I…I will beat you.”

Pursing her lips, Lady Bai said, “I will beat you.”

Under his father’s glare, Bai Erlang didn’t dare cry despite his stinging bottom.

With things settled between the family of four, they dried their tears and returned to their rooms.

The steward who delivered the compensation gift to the Zhou family had just returned and reported to Old Master Bai, “…We sent a bottle of medicated wine for treating bruises, two pieces of meat, two fish, and two packages of pastries. Old Master Zhou was very agreeable, saying the child only had some superficial bruising that would heal with some rest.”

Old Master Bai rebuked his unfilial son again before saying, “She’s just a girl, as long as she doesn’t scar.”

The steward lowered his head. “It seems unlikely. I caught a glimpse of the little lady of the Zhou family – no visible injuries, just some swelling on her forehead, no open wounds.”

With a wave, Old Master Bai dismissed him.

Over at the Zhou family compound, the children led by Man Bao squatted in the courtyard, eyeing the two fish, two meats, and two packages of pastries, all struggling not to drool.

Da Tou and the others were so envious. “The little cousin really is something else, even gets meat, fish and pastries after a fight!”

Da Ya emphasized, “Pastries too!”

Man Bao felt her forehead. “Why don’t we pick another fight with Bai Erlang next time?”

Overhearing from the side, Old Master Zhou nearly slapped his daughter’s head before remembering her injury – a blow to the head could make her foolish. So he settled for a verbal dressing down instead. “Don’t talk nonsense, fighting is fun? Not to mention you’re younger than him, you could only lose. You started this, yet you want them to send gifts? How could that be?”

Old Master Zhou said, “If the Bai family asks us to compensate them, we can’t afford two meats and two fish.”

Man Bao sighed wistfully before eyeing the pastries and drooling. She then turned and clung to her eldest sister-in-law, acting spoiled. “Sister, can we open the pastries to eat?”

Though she didn’t like sweets much, she loved pastries.
She had sniffed them earlier – so fragrant!

Without hesitation, Xiao Qian Shi checked with her mother-in-law Qian Shi, who nodded approval. She unwrapped one package, first giving Man Bao two pieces before one to each child, then re-wrapping the rest to let Man Bao slowly finish them.

But with a sly look, Man Bao first stuffed one piece each into her father and mother’s mouths before staring yearningly at Xiao Qian Shi.

Unable to refuse, Xiao Qian Shi gave her another two pieces.

Man Bao smiled sweetly before doing the same, stuffing the pieces into her two other sisters-in-law’s mouths, then looking at Xiao Qian Shi again.

Exasperated to see her sisters-in-law had gotten some, Xiao Qian Shi opened the oiled paper and shoved the last two pieces at Man Bao. “There, that’s all of them!”

But Man Bao brought one piece to Xiao Qian Shi’s mouth, her voice dripping with sweetness. “Sister, you eat too. It smells so good!”

Xiao Qian Shi’s exasperation immediately melted into laughter. “You really are clever.”

He Shi didn’t eat the pastry but laughed, “Man Bao treats her sisters-in-law differently. Ours didn’t make it to our mouths.”

Feng Shi joined in, “Well, she was nursed by the eldest sister-in-law after all.”

A hint of pride in her voice despite humble words, Xiao Qian Shi said, “This child treats everyone in the family the same. Her honeyed words could charm anyone – all our children combined don’t match her.”

The three sisters-in-law continued their mutual admiration until Qian Shi instructed from the side, “Have the meats cut up and stir-fried. With no well, leaving them raw won’t keep long. Cooked, they’ll last a bit longer.”

She added, “Dinner is prepared but take some out to stir-fry together as supplemental dishes. Man Bao is injured and needs nourishing.”

The three daughters-in-law dared not continue idling and busied themselves with the tasks.

They didn’t eat the pastries themselves but handed them to their respective husbands to enjoy.

Of course, Zhou Dalang and brothers weren’t foolish enough to just eat them, instead taking them back to store properly and share among their small families later that night.

Qian Shi also called her daughter over, giving her the pastries while smiling and gently touching the injured forehead. “Eat up, it’ll help you heal faster.”

But Man Bao pushed the pastries back. “Mother, you eat.”

Qian Shi shook her head. “I’m taking medicine, can’t eat pastries. You eat.”

Unsuspecting since her mother did have dietary restrictions, Man Bao happily took a bite before scampering off to play with Zhou Wulang and the others.

Sitting nearby, Old Master Zhou broke off a large piece to stuff into his wife’s mouth.

Qian Shi smiled, not refusing this time.

Man Bao was very interested to hear about Zhou Wulang and the others’ county town visit that day, peppering them with eager questions.

Having felt they’d seen the wider world, Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang allowed themselves to be surrounded by their brothers and nephews, puffing up as they vividly recounted the day’s events.

After incidents of even adults being abducted in this area, the villages had established travel rules for going to town.

Leaving aside those from the same village, which was small anyway – anyone intending to go to the county town the next day would give a shout, and those interested would agree on a meeting time at the village entrance. If no one else, they would set off alone, but even the departure timing had a principle.

Zhou Wulang said, “The best timing to reach the county town is around the Chen hour(7:am-9:am). Everyone walks at roughly the same pace, so counting back from the town, villagers hoping to travel together know exactly when to wait at their respective village entrances.”

Chapter 48: Reminiscing

Old Master Bai was also pained to see Bai Erlang’s state, thinking the two brothers had been beaten again. While telling someone to take him to get cleaned up and checked, he asked the servant who brought the children back.

The other two students who returned with Bai Erlang were also taken to bathe and change clothes.

The servant knelt down, head lowered, and recounted everything he had witnessed in detail.

Old Master Bai’s face grew colder and paler. The arriving Old Lady Bai and Lady Bai didn’t know how to face Lady Liu.

Fortunately, Lady Liu remained composed, counseling Old Master Bai and his son, “Children will always cause a ruckus. The two are of similar age, this is normal.”

How was it normal? If it were just fighting and arguing, that would be one thing, but he tried putting a sack over his head!

Enraged, Old Master Bai angrily stormed into his second son’s courtyard.

Seeing his demeanor, Lady Bai was alarmed and quickly supported the old lady.

Old Lady Bai couldn’t be bothered to console Lady Liu, immediately following behind and calling out, “Just give him a light spanking…don’t injure the child!”

Lady Liu also hurried to catch up. Though trailing behind Old Master Bai, they soon heard Bai Erlang’s wails and shrieks.

Old Lady Bai was so startled she nearly sat down. Lady Liu rushed past her, shouting, “Bai Li, if you injure the child, we’ll have no face left to stay here!”

Just as Old Master Bai had his son over his lap, spanking his bottom, he paused at Lady Liu’s words and flung the still wailing boy to the ground, angrily pointing, “You cry, but if you don’t cry yourself to death today, you’ll make your father die of anger!”

Lady Liu quickly grabbed a quilt from the bed to wrap the child, who had been pulled out mid-bath, making the handprints on his bottom all the more obvious – likely the worst of his injuries.

Hugging the crying Bai Erlang, Lady Liu wept, “Old Master, he’s only seven or eight, all children act up! Didn’t you misbehave as a child? Did your mother and I beat you like this? Children need proper guidance – with your beating, you could ruin even the best child!”

“Let him beat!” Having finally arrived leaning on her daughter-in-law, Old Lady Bai panted against the door frame, angrily saying, “Let him beat him to death and be done with it, then he can live alone in this manor. Sister, I’ll leave with you, no need to offend him further.”

Lady Liu chided, “Sister, if he doesn’t know how to discipline children, then you should teach him. What’s the point of antagonizing him like this?”

Lady Liu checked on Bai Erlang, seeing his swollen bottom was not too serious, her only worry being the child getting so frightened he develops a fever overnight, which could be life-threatening.

She instructed Lady Bai, “Stop crying, you need to take charge since your mother-in-law is elderly. Have the servants fetch his clothes to get him changed, then make him a calming soup lest he gets too scared.”

Having raised two children herself, Old Lady Bai agreed, immediately relaying Lady Liu’s instructions to her daughter-in-law.

Not just them, Bai Shanbao and the other two children were also given calming soups before being respectfully sent home.

The chaotic Bai manor finally settled down.

Only then did Lady Liu wearily tell Old Master Bai, “We should send a conciliatory gift to the Zhou family too, since their little lady was reportedly injured as well.”

Old Master Bai nodded repeatedly before instructing the steward.

The two children had been brought together. Though just spanked, Bai Erlang’s eyes were still red, while Bai Shanbao, aware of the beating, pretended to behave with lowered head but kept glancing over with mocking looks when the adults weren’t watching.

Bai Erlang glared back angrily when unwatched.

But how could the adults not notice?

Seeing the two children still couldn’t get along affectionately, the adults fell silent.

Lady Liu thought she’d better hurry and build their own house, hopefully moving out before the new year so some distance might ease the frosty relationship between the cousins.

Old Lady Bai also sighed, waiting until Lady Liu and daughter-in-law took Bai Shanbao to rest before telling her son, “You and Qi’er used to get along so well, closer than blood brothers. How did it become like fighting cocks between you two in this generation?”

“We’ll have Dalang take care of things when he returns.”

Lady Bai couldn’t help but say, “Dalang is so much older than Shanbao. The two children may not fight, but isn’t he also too old to still be studying?”

“That depends on if he can test into the county school. Master Zhuang is from the prefectural academy – I just want him to guide Dalang a little.”

Lady Bai didn’t really understand why her mother and husband insisted their children befriend Bai Shanbao, who was just a child after all.

Seeing her daughter-in-law’s downcast silence, Old Lady Bai could guess her thoughts. Ever since Lady Liu and daughter-in-law moved in with Bai Shanbao, the daughter-in-law had been unhappy.

With a sigh, Old Lady Bai told Old Master Bai, “Your brother Qi is gone, leaving your sister-in-law and her child widowed and destitute. Bullied by the clan, they can only rely on you now. The kinship between our two families is naturally different from others.”

These words from Old Lady Bai were not just for Old Master Bai, but for Lady Bai too. “When your father entered the clan school as a country bumpkin, though of the Bai clan, he was far removed from the main lineage. If not for your grandfather’s capabilities managing the family business well and donating generously to the school, your father could never have studied in Longzhou.”

Patting her young grandson’s head, Old Lady Bai continued to Old Master Bai, “Even so, he was often bullied, protected only by your fifth paternal uncle back then.”

Red-faced, Old Master Bai knelt, “Rest assured Mother, I will take good care of Sister-in-law, raising Shanbao like my own son.”

Pulling him up, Old Lady Bai said, “That’s not what I meant.”

Then what did you mean?

Old Lady Bai just looked at him. “You know the bond between our two families, but the children may not. If you don’t explain, they’ll think your sister-in-law’s family just came to mooch.”

Only then did Old Lady Bai look at Lady Bai and her grandson. “Your grandfather and fifth uncle were close friends back then. It’s just a pity your grandfather was not as scholarly as your fifth uncle, only becoming a county magistrate. He had a temper – scolded by an official twice, he quit and returned to farm.”

Lady Bai: …She knew this story too. Even now in the county town, some still called her grandfather a man of quality.

Chapter 47: Group Fight

That’s what they said, but they also helped restrain Bai Shanbao.

Would Bai Shanbao just stand there waiting to be caught?

Of course not. He was someone used to fighting. As soon as the sack touched his head, he struggled to the side. Two people held him down, and he started shouting and kicking. In that brief moment, Man Bao also crawled out from behind the reeds. Seeing Bai Erlang jumping up to pin Bai Shanbao down and try to put the sack over his head, she was stunned.

But only for a moment. She immediately called for Da Tou outside while rushing over to push Bai Erlang.

So the five children became a rolling, fighting mess, pushing and hitting each other.

Seeing Bai Erlang persist in trying to sack Bai Shanbao’s head, his little companion could no longer hold back, shouting “They’ve all seen us, idiot!”

Bai Erlang paused, then angrily said, “Who are you calling an idiot?”

The other hesitated, but unhesitatingly continued restraining Man Bao and Bai Shanbao while shouting back, “You, who else is an idiot?”

Each was the treasured child of their family. Although your family is the landlord’s and richer with better snacks, we’re willing to follow your lead, but not foolish enough for this.

The two bickered, and Bai Erlang’s grip on Bai Shanbao loosened. Taking advantage, Man Bao persistently kicked Bai Erlang, allowing Bai Shanbao to push him off and get up from the ground. He pinned Bai Erlang down instead, shouting while clenching his fists to hit him.

The servants on the high ground had noticed the situation below at Bai Shanbao’s first shout and immediately ran down in alarm from the high ground, but the place they’d chosen was a distance from the river bank, so it took them a while to arrive.

And before they got there, Da Tou had already rushed over, first pushing away the person fighting his little cousin, then taking over and fighting the other side himself.

The two were of similar age and soon rolled into a tussle, with Da Tou not afraid to hit his opponent, though the other dared not lay a hand on Man Bao, after all she was a girl and younger. The two boys grappled and slapped gleefully.

Of course, Man Bao sided with her little companion and big nephew. When the servants arrived, all six were embroiled in the melee.

The servants shouted sternly, restraining everyone before separating the two groups to check on their young master.

Not only was Bai Shanbao covered in mud all over his face and body, his forehead was cut with several bruises on his face.

Looking at the others, their conditions were similar.

The servants looked at their young master piteously, holding back tears. He was the family’s only child! The old lady had told them to watch over the young master, yet they’d let him get beat up like this – they would surely face consequences at home.

But Bai Shanbao had no such concerns. Pushing a servant aside, he took a step toward Bai Erlang and issued a stern warning: “Villain! You played dirty with an ambush. If you’ve got guts, issue me a challenge note. See if I don’t break your head!”

Man Bao also felt Bai Erlang was too despicable, not only ambushing them but outnumbering kids younger than him. But seeing their own tattered state, she thought his tactic not bad.

Unable to take the provocation, Bai Erlang immediately rolled up his sleeves and said, “If it’s a fight you want, I’m not scared. Let’s go right now!”

“Bring it on!” Bai Shanbao also rolled up his sleeves. “Come on!”

Man Bao cheered him on from the side. “You can definitely do it! Hit his face, pinch his arms!”

Da Tou looked around and even found a mudball for him.

Finally unable to hold back, a servant knelt down wailing, hugging their young master’s legs. “Young master, please spare me! If the old lady and madame find out you were fighting outside, they’ll flay me alive! Let’s go home quickly!”

Just then, Zhou Silang also stumbled over. The group amid the reeds had been noisy but from outside, he couldn’t see where they were, especially with the kneeling servant.

So he called out, “Man Bao! Da Tou! Where did you two run off to? Come out right now!”

Zhou Silang and the Bai family’s servant thus led the tattered group of kids back. Upon entering the village just as families were sitting down for dinner, the sight of the six muddy urchins didn’t draw much attention from the villagers at first.

Such scenes were normal for country children.

But then they noticed the little lady of the Zhou family walking at the front and were surprised. “Ai ya, Man Bao, you were out fighting too?”

They looked at Zhou Silang. “Silang ah, did you beat up your little sister?”

Zhou Silang scowled. “Do I have the guts for that?”

Indeed, unless he had eaten a bear’s heart and a tiger’s gall bladder, how dare he lay a hand on the Zhou family’s precious treasure?

The villagers watched Man Bao with keen interest, even asking her, “Man Bao, did you win or lose this fight?”

Man Bao wasn’t stupid. She could tell it wasn’t a kind question, so she snorted, “Of course I won! If not, call your grandson out, and I’ll beat him in front of you.”

The other person laughed. “This little girl has quite the temper. How can she fight?”

“I’ll discipline my nephews and grandsons.”

The person paused, only then realizing he was of the same generation as Zhou Dalang, making him the same as Man Bao – so his grandson was indeed her nephew! He didn’t dare provoke her further for fear she’d really confront and beat his grandson.

The Zhou family’s treasure was usually prim and proper, always accompanied when going out, rarely looking so disheveled.

They remembered in the first couple years after Man Bao learned to walk, she played with Da Tou and the others under the big tree at the village entrance. A couple of village boys snatched the candy in her pocket and even pushed her into a puddle.

One of those boys was even the village chief’s grandson! Afterward, Zhou Silang sternly led his brothers and nephews to confront and reprimand the two kids.

The chief’s daughter-in-law and wife didn’t dare utter a word, and the chief himself brought eggs to visit Man Bao, who was reportedly shocked and delighted, but fell into a high fever.

From then on, when disciplining their kids, adults could allow fights with Da Tou and the others but warned against making trouble for Zhou Man Bao.

As a child, her health was weaker than most, so who knew if such a fright could have worse consequences.

Seeing the tattered state Man Bao was in now, the villagers said nothing out loud but inwardly worried for her and the kids who had beaten her up.

Zhou Silang glared sternly at Zhou Erlang and the others before carrying his precious little sister home to bathe and apply medicine.

The servants, of course, brought the rest back to the Bai residence.

At the Bai manor, the adults were again alarmed.

Seeing her son’s bruised face, Zheng Shi swayed and clutched him, wailing in anguish.

Liu Shi also wobbled but steadied herself, rebuking her daughter-in-law before telling her to take the children away first. Only then did she turn to the old Master Bai and say, “Your brother’s wife is too careless. What child doesn’t get a few scrapes and bruises?”

Yet inwardly she, too, felt heartbroken.

Chapter 46 Face to Face

As soon as the end of school bell rang, the children respectfully bid Teacher Zhuang farewell. After he waved them off, with a whoosh they happily ran out.

Man Bao naturally didn’t fall behind, hugging her books as she dashed out. Bai Shan Bao was even faster, running outside only to encounter Da Tou who had come to pick up Man Bao.

Yesterday after finding out that the children all went home by themselves after school, and the Bai’s residence wasn’t far from the school, Liu Shi decided that for Bai Shan Bao to integrate into the school quickly he couldn’t be treated special. So they had all agreed he wouldn’t be picked up today.

Bai Shan Bao was more than happy with this and had talked about playing with classmates.

So now Liu Shi hadn’t sent anyone to fetch him, only dispatching a servant to watch by the riverside. If Bai Shan Bao went to play by the river they would bring him back.

Seeing that Man Bao still needed someone to fetch her, Bai Shan Bao felt very proud, saying she was still a baby without weaned.

Man Bao said, “You’re the one not weaned. I stopped drinking milk when I was eight months old. Humph, Da Tou came to carry my books.”

“That’s right, I came to carry books for little aunt.”

Although she said this, Man Bao also decided to tell her mother that night, to have Da Tou and the others stop picking her up after school.

Man Bao felt looked down on, so she ordered Da Tou as authoritatively as possible, “We’re going to dig lotus roots. Da Tou, lead the way!”

Da Tou felt that although little aunt was just a child with fanciful ideas, with her size if she went to dig lotus roots she’d be digging herself into the ground instead.

However, seeing Bai Shan Bao next to them, he felt he couldn’t lose face for little aunt in front of her classmate. So his eyes turned as he said, “Little aunt, let’s take the books home first. We still have to get the hoes.”

Man Bao’s raised head paused for a second. She scratched her head, straining to recall as she asked, “Do you need a hoe to dig lotus roots?”

Da Tou thought of her being her silly. “Of course, lotus roots are in the mud.”

Bai Shan Bao contemptuously glanced at Man Bao, thinking her stupidness. Even though he didn’t farm he knew things in dirt had to be dug out with hoes.

He felt they were peers and also Da Tou’s elder. So with a wave of his hand he said, “Fine, let’s go.”

Watching them walk in another direction, Bai Er Lang who was observing couldn’t help but scratch his cheek in distress. “What to do?”

Bai Er Lang gritted his teeth. “Follow them. It’s just the three of them, we’re bigger than them.”

The other two buddies also felt the three of them could definitely beat these three little ones, so together they dragged their sack and followed.

Da Tou led them back to the Zhou home. After putting down the books and poking around finding no adults home, he knew Granny must have gone to the vegetable garden. Today the family was harvesting napa cabbage so Granny had to be in charge.

Man Bao and Bai Shan Bao were both urging him. After all they were children and very impatient.

With no other choice, Da Tou could only find Er Ya who was in the kitchen cooking. He told her to go to the fields and find fourth uncle, telling him to just go straight to the lotus pond by the river bank to meet them.

Er Ya looked at the cooking rice before hurrying off.

Da Tou took out a nice thick stick, “The family took all the hoes. We’ll use sticks instead.”

Man Bao and Bai Shan Bao naturally had no objections. As long as they could go.

And so everyone headed towards the riverside, following along the bank forward. Once out of the village tail they walked a bit more until a river beach. The river had scoured out quite a large wetland here before turning back on itself to continue flowing. The children didn’t know where this river ultimately flowed. They heard it went into the mountains.

More than once Man Bao had wanted to follow the river to see where it led. Da Tou obviously knew of little aunt’s dangerous idea so cautioned her as they walked, “You can’t follow the river or you’ll never see us again. And don’t go near the water, if you fall in my arms are too short to grab you.”

Man Bao didn’t know if she was listening or not, only nodding.

Arriving at the spot, Bai Shan Bao looked around. He discovered many tall weeds here with sparse leftover lotus leaves by the river bank.

It was called a river beach but near where they stood the soil was already hardened. Because it had rained yesterday there were still many small pools holding water. The water was very clear, the bottom of the pools clearly visible.

Bai Shan Bao curiously squatted down to look, even reaching out to measure the little pools.

After just a glance Da Tou said, “It must have been the village chief’s cattle here eating grass.”

He exclaimed emotionally, “The grass here sure is green, long and delicious.”

Bai Shan Bao curiously asked him, “Have you eaten it before?”

Da Tou thought him silly, “Grass is for cattle to eat, have you eaten it?”

Bai Shan Bao stumped him. “Then how do you know it’s delicious?”

The little water pools on the ground captured Man Bao and Bai Shan Bao’s attention, temporarily forgetting about digging lotus roots. Of course Da Tou wouldn’t remind them, letting them play here.

The river had receded now so this large area was dry land. No matter how much they fell down, as long as they didn’t run towards the water they wouldn’t fall in.

The two inexperienced little buddies ran around the tall reeds, even crying out when they saw little fish swimming in the pools.

The servant Liu Shi sent to watch young master was observing the two children from afar squatting by a pool with their little heads practically leaning together as they chatted. He decided not to approach for now.

After all there was still a good distance from the river here.

Who knew what the two children were chatting about, but they started a game of blind man’s bluff. Da Tou clearly wasn’t participating, only watching from the side.

So the servant saw when their young master had just hidden in the grass, the older boy immediately pointed him out to the Zhou girl.

Servant: ……*speechless* How shameless. But this child isn’t bad, at least he’s still watching over them.

The servant decided to forgive them. Glancing left and right, he found a high vantage point to more fully observe the situation below.

He could give them three quarter hours to play at most. No matter what, they had to go home after that.

Just as the servant shifted position, temporarily losing sight of them, Bai Shan Bao had already guessed that Da Tou was feeding Man Bao clues. He strongly opposed this and said if it happened again he wouldn’t play anymore.

Man Bao promised it wouldn’t happen again. And so the two little friends reconciled. Since Man Bao had cheated, this time Bai Shan Bao went to hide while Man Bao sought.

Man Bao knew the tall grass made it a bit hard to find people, but she deeply understood the benefit of startling the prey. So she randomly chose a direction to crash into, immediately yelling, “I see you, I see you, don’t move…”

And so Bai Shan Bao nervously moved a bit and Man Bao immediately located his position.

Bai Shan Bao was quite angry. Before Man Bao even reached him he turned to run aside…

Where three littler buddies were squatting! They had still been discussing how to throw the sack over Bai Shan Bao when the person suddenly charged out in front of them.

Bai Er Lang’s actions were much quicker than his thoughts. Before his mind reacted his body had grabbed the sack to throw over Bai Shan Bao’s head.

The two buddies: ……He already saw our face, what’s the difference between putting the sack over or not?

Chapter 45 The Soulful Artist

Liu Shi asked her grandson what he had learned today.

Bai Shan Bao was very experienced in dealing with his grandmother. He only told Grandmother about what Teacher Zhuang taught and said in class, and didn’t mention his and Man Bao’s plan to catch bugs to scare second cousin.

With just a little thought, Liu Shi knew her grandson couldn’t have been that well-behaved in school, moreover Teacher Zhuang had brought up the county magistrate’s responsibilities out of the blue.

There must have been a reason for it, but she didn’t ask too much. Instead she called her grandson over to tell him what a county magistrate was and what a county magistrate needed to do.

Bai Shan Bao listened carefully, deciding he would tell Man Bao about it tomorrow. Hmph, he knew a lot more than her.

Seeing her grandson listening carefully without his usual rebelliousness, Liu Shi spoke in more detail with a warmer attitude.

Bai Shan Bao asked when he didn’t understand. He also mentioned what Man Bao said about their county magistrate being a bad person for collecting extra entrance fees.

Only then did Liu Shi understand why Teacher Zhuang took them to see ants and watch the autumn rain, and also told them stories.

Liu Shi said, “The county needs money to build roads, maintain dikes, and water conservation projects. If Magistrate Fu uses the money for these purposes, raising entrance fees isn’t unreasonable.”

Bai Shan Bao understood this point – everything takes money.

His mother said the reason they moved to the mountains was because the clan bullied the widow and orphan, trying to swallow up all their family property.

His mother said those assets were for making money. In the future he would need money to study, take the exams, get a wife, become an official. That money was to be saved for him.

So from that time, Bai Shan Bao knew money was a very important thing. Even someone as powerful as the clan chief shamelessly tried to rob them of their money.

Liu Shi however felt that moving to Qili Village was the right decision.

Although their relationship with the Zhou family was close, since they decided to live here long term, it wasn’t right to always stay in their home. Her intention was to buy land in the village and build a small compound to move into. That would keep the two families close enough to look after one another, yet have their own separate households. Wouldn’t that be comfortable?

Zheng Shi didn’t have any objections. She was used to listening to her mother-in-law in everything.

Bai Shan Bao on the other hand had a lot of ideas. Playing nearby, upon hearing Grandmother’s words he ran over, “Pick one by the river. In the future bring the water into the house and dig a big pond to raise turtles. I want to raise turtles.”

“Why are you still thinking about raising turtles?” All because of fighting over a turtle back home, this child split open their second uncle’s grandson’s head. Grandmother even paid a lot of gifts as compensation. Just thinking about it now still pained Zheng Shi.

But Bai Shan Bao persisted, “I’m going to raise turtles and when they grow big make turtle soup for Grandmother to drink.”

Zheng Shi’s expression was quite speechless. Liu Shi however understood her grandson’s meaning. She patted his head with a smile, “Good good, we’ll dig a pond for you to raise turtles. What else do you want, tell Grandmother at once to make plans.”

Bai Shan Bao thought a bit, “I need to think carefully about this.”

“Go ahead and think about it then tell me when you’ve decided.”

Since buying land and building a house was not something Liu Shi could decide on her own, it had to be discussed with Master Bai.

Bai Shan Bao wasn’t worried about all that. After reviewing today’s lessons, he started drawing his imagined yard with brush and ink.

He was currently at the “soulful artist” stage. Besides himself probably no one could understand what he drew.

But Bai Shan Bao didn’t know that. Thus the next day he happily brought his masterpiece for Man Bao to see, telling her this would be his new home.

Man Bao looked it over up and down for a long time, holding her cheeks uncertainly asking, “Which side is the front?”

Bai Shan Bao positioned the painting, explaining, “Look, this is my room. I’m going to build a swing here so when I wake up I can swing. Here I’ll dig a pond and raise turtles, so I can swing while watching the turtles. See, this is a turtle.”

Man Bao had never seen a turtle before. She asked, “Can you eat turtles?”

“You can. Turtles can live a very very long time. I’m planning to fatten it up and make turtle soup for my Grandmother to drink, so my Grandmother will also have a long life.”

Man Bao’s eyes lit up, “Really?”

Bai Shan Bao nodded, “Of course it’s true. Back home everyone said turtles represent longevity!”

“Then how many do you have? Can you sell one to me, I also want to raise turtles.”

Bai Shan Bao asked, “Why do you want to raise turtles?”

“To feed my mother. My mother is always sick. After she eats turtle she’ll also have a long life, then she won’t always be sick.”

Bai Shan Bao felt turtles were hard to come by. Otherwise back then he wouldn’t have fought his cousin for that one. But since he had just become friends with Man Bao, it wasn’t good to reject her. So he hesitated and said, “I’ll have my mother buy an extra one. If she can get one I’ll give it to you to raise. If not, then when my turtle has babies I’ll give you one to raise.”

Man Bao didn’t think it was right, “It takes two turtles, a male and a female, to have babies.”

“Who says so?”

“Chickens and pigs are all like this. People too,” although Man Bao was still small, she actually knew a lot more. She listed it out for him, “My family’s hen hatches chicks. My mother checks the eggs, says only eggs from mating with a rooster can hatch chicks. In spring, elder cousin specially invited a boar from the neighboring village to mate with his sow so she could birth piglets. People also have to marry before having babies.”

Therefore, “You have to buy two turtles, a male and a female. Then they can give birth. Have one baby a year, ten in ten years. When they grow up we eat the two grown ones, continue raising the rest to keep breeding…have more and more turtles.” Man Bao counted and shocked even herself, “Wow, then we’ll have a lot of turtles!”

Bai Shan Bao felt she made sense and decided what to discuss with his mother that night.

Seeing he was willing to listen to her advice, Man Bao grew even more lively. Pointing at his blueprint she said, “Besides raising turtles you can also plant lotus roots in the pond. Do you know lotus? There’s lots of them downstream by the riverbank. The summer flowers are really pretty. Lotus seeds and lotus roots are delicious to eat.”

Man Bao got excited, “I’ll take you to dig lotus roots, okay? I went to watch last year and already know how to dig them.”

Bai Shan Bao asked, “Didn’t we say we were going to catch cabbage worms today?”

Man Bao casually said, “We can catch them some other time. Let’s go dig lotus roots first. Lotus roots are much prettier than worms.”

Since Bai Shan Bao wasn’t too keen on catching bugs either, he nodded in agreement.