The Lucky Farmgirl

Zhou Ligu clicked his tongue, feeling the burden on his shoulder was heavy, and asked, "Aunt, how did you earn so much money?"

He was really envious. He and Third Brother, apart from making some money from the capital given to Fourth Uncle years ago, only made a little extra from copying books and helping out at restaurants under Fifth Uncle and Sixth Uncle, but that money was just enough to buy some food, not even enough for ink and paper.

Manbao patted him on the shoulder and said, "Once you learn a skill, earning money will be easy."

"What skill do us scholars have?"

"Being officials and learning to manage administrative affairs, that will be your skill."

Zhou Ligu, along with his aunt, carried a basket of silver ingots to the western courtyard, naturally not to his room, but to Old Zhou’s room.

Because the money divided among the three families in the capital was kept with grandpa and grandma.

Ms. Qian accepted the money and nodded in satisfaction after knowing Zhou Ligu had written an IOU for his aunt.

After delivering the money, Manbao cheerfully ran off to find Bai Shan and Bai Erlang to go out for food.

She only had two days off, and after the holiday, she’d have to go to the Daming Palace.

Old Master Bai was exercising his waist in the courtyard. Seeing Zhou Man, he stopped and smiled, guiding her, "Those two were dragged by Dalang to drink some wine last night, and are still lazing in bed."

Manbao thanked Old Master Bai and ran to check.

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang were already up, but they seemed a bit dazed. Bai Shan was listless, sitting idly by the window sunbathing, while a Xiaos served hot water, placing it on a stand and calling to him before retreating.

Bai Shan’s mind was blank, seemingly not hearing anything, until he felt the sunlight being blocked and looked up.

Manbao leaned over, earnestly asking, "Do you want me to cook a bowl of hangover soup for you?"

Bai Shan immediately cleared his head, shaking it repeatedly, "No need."

He got up to wash and freshen up.

Manbao wanted to find Bai Erlang, but Bai Erlang, living next door, heard her voice and quickly got up, saying loudly when she knocked, "I’m not drunk!"

Once the two had freshened up and dressed, Manbao joined them in sneaking out. Mr. Zhuang stood with hands in sleeves at the courtyard gate, watching the scenery. Seeing their sneaky looks, he spoke, "Return early in the afternoon, Erlang, your brother has already completed the assignments I set. When will you hand yours in?"

Bai Erlang stiffened slightly, sneaking a glance at Mr. Zhuang, obediently agreeing. Bai Shan straightened, no longer sneaky, pulling Manbao and Bai Erlang along while saying, "Don’t worry, sir, we’ll keep an eye on Junior Brother, and make sure he finishes before the holiday ends."

Manbao nodded repeatedly, and with Bai Shan, dragged Bai Erlang along and slipped away.

Mr. Zhuang shook his head, not forcing Bai Erlang to stay home. During the festival, staying would only make him restless; better to let them enjoy two comfortable days.

However, they couldn’t be too indulgent; lacking restraint would make it hard to return to studying after two days off, with exams coming next month.

The trio slipped out, where Daji had horses and two guards waiting outside. As they emerged, the horses were handed over, and the six leisurely strolled to the streets.

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, so they asked, "What for breakfast?"

Manbao replied, "We’ll eat whatever we fancy on the main street."

Thus the group headed to the markets within the city.

Bai Shan slowly strolled forward, finally choosing a wonton stall. After sitting down, he asked, "Wanna eat wontons?"

Seeing Manbao nod, Bai Shan said, "Three bowls of wontons, with meat."

"Alright."

The vendor responded happily and immediately began preparing wontons.

Daji and two guards tied up the horses, sitting aside. Bai Shan asked them, "Would you like to eat?"

The three shook their heads; they’d eaten well in the morning, saving their appetite for lunch.

Bai Shan drew a pair of chopsticks, looking at the street as a caravan approached, led by a security bureau flag, he asked Daji, "Isn’t Bo’an in the capital?"

Daji laughed, "He’s off on a convoy."

Bai Shan nodded, "Aren’t you planning to arrange his marriage?"

Daji replied, "That child is stubborn, dissatisfied with our matchmaking. His mother and I don’t want to force him, so we’ll let him be for a couple more years. He’ll realize the importance of marriage as he grows up."

"And Shuping?"

Embarrassed, Daji smiled, "Shuping will take the Ming Classic exam next year. We plan to see the outcome before deciding."

If successful, naturally, it would favor matchmaking. If not, depending on his performance, it might be prudent to wait a couple of years for arranging a marriage.

If his performance was poor, making it unlikely he’d succeed, they would seek a suitable match...

Daji calculated his money, considering buying a small courtyard in the outer city, having a house would make marriage easier.

Bai Shan guessed his plan to buy a house, offering, "If you need money, let me know."

Daji grinned, "Young master, since returning from the Western Regions last year, I exchanged some goods for money, enough for buying a house."

He also saved for Bo’an to buy a courtyard when he marries.

That Western Regions trip truly helped; otherwise, wanting to buy two courtyards, even in the outer city, would require ten more years of work, along with past savings.

The wontons arrived, and the three immediately started eating. Once satisfied, they took to the streets leisurely heading to the western suburbs’ horse track.

Zhao Liulang and his group had arrived early, having watched a match already. Seeing the trio approaching unhurriedly, he called out impatiently, "Why are you guys so slow?"

Bai Shan said, "Bai Er didn’t give a specific time when inviting us."

Just said it was today, but who knew when "today" meant?

Zhao Liulang looked at Bai Erlang.

Bai Erlang quickly added, "You didn’t mention a time either; I relayed your words verbatim."

Manbao said, "They got drunk last night, so they lazed in bed today!"

Zhao Liulang immediately turned to the duo, "Well, we invited you to drink, and you didn’t, yet drank with someone else."

Bai Shan:...

Bai Erlang argued, "That wasn’t someone else; that was my big brother."

"Alright, alright, drinking isn’t a good thing anyway, let’s move past this," Manbao instigated but then smoothed things over, looking around asking, "Why did you call us here? Another horserace?"

Manbao wasn’t particularly fond of horse races or polo matches; seeing once or twice a year sufficed, watching more was boring.

Zhao Liulang said, "Introducing you to acquaintances since the scholar examination is forthcoming, many scholars have arrived in the capital. Come, I’ll introduce you, all disciples of various distinguished families."

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