The Lucky Farmgirl

This is a separate volume. The "Strategies of the Warring States" is very thick. The printed version is a single book and it’s extremely expensive. Some scholars who can’t afford it would buy these hand-copied separate volumes. Each one costs about a hundred to two hundred pennies. Students like Zhou Lixue would get ink and paper from here and copy them. They can earn around twenty pennies per volume, and if they make fewer mistakes, they can even save some money on ink and paper.

They don’t earn much, but they are currently studying "Strategies of the Warring States". Copying such books not only helps with their memorization but also allows them to earn some pocket money. It’s a very pleasant thing.

The premise is that they haven’t seen how their little aunt bargains with the owner over the cost and selling price of a book.

Including Bai Shuping, all three of them felt a bit disheartened, so much so that they didn’t want to speak. After taking the new sheets of paper, they left.

Students who come to the bookshop to copy books are not supplied with samples, except for storybooks. So to copy the "Strategies of the Warring States", they need to have a book of their own.

Fortunately, although this book is expensive, the Zhou Family can afford it now. They have three copies at home.

Manbao thought they were leaving too quickly and hurriedly called out, "Why are you going so fast? It’s getting dark. We were just about to head home together, so let’s go together."

Zhou Lixue refused, "We’re not going home. We’re going to the restaurant."

"What are you going to the restaurant for?"

Zhou Lixue replied, "We’re going to eat. We want to have Sixth Uncle’s cooking."

Zhou Ligu added, "That’s right. Sixth Uncle’s cooking is really good now. We love his dishes."

Manbao looked at them suspiciously and said straightforwardly, "Fine, we’ll go with you to check it out. We haven’t tasted Sixth Brother’s cooking in a while."

Bai Shuping turned his head to look at them.

Zhou Lixue and Zhou Ligu fell silent, and after a moment, they said, "Little Aunt, why don’t you go home? Don’t you have to go to the office tomorrow?"

Bai Shan gave them a glance and said, "Aren’t you going to school tomorrow?"

So, they all went to the restaurant together.

It was the busiest time in the restaurant. The staff were so busy that they were practically running on air. Zhou Liwei caught sight of them and immediately said, "Why are you only here now? Quickly change your outer clothes and come help. Those two tables over there are about to finish. Hurry and clear the dishes. There are more customers waiting outside..."

He only noticed Manbao and Bai Shan Bai Erlang after speaking. He was momentarily stunned, then quickly greeted them, "Little Aunt, what are you doing here?"

Manbao looked around and exclaimed, "Our restaurant business is doing so well?"

Zhou Liwei felt a bit proud, "Of course, Little Aunt. Why don’t you sit upstairs? There’s a private room that’s been vacant. You can sit there."

"No need," Manbao waved her hand, "I’ll give you a hand. You go ahead and stay busy, don’t worry about us."

In truth, they didn’t need much help from Manbao and Bai Shan, so the three of them stood by the counter helping with the accounts and payments.

Fortunately, the restaurant only added new dishes and didn’t change the prices of the existing ones. So after going through the order list twice, they matched everything up.

Occasionally, Zhou Liwei would stroll over. He knew which table was which and wouldn’t make mistakes, so the payment side of things went smoothly.

As the sun set and the sky darkened outside, many people finished eating and headed off to the night market. Quite a few paid their bills and left the restaurant, making it noticeably emptier.

Only then did Zhou Dalang and Junior Ms.Qian, who had been helping in the kitchen, come out.

Manbao saw Ms.Feng there too, and her mouth dropped open in surprise, "Second Sister-in-law, why are you here too?"

Ms.Feng replied, "I’m here to lend a hand."

Manbao was taken aback, her eyes moving nervously to the customers still eating. Are they okay? Will the restaurant be fine in the future?

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang couldn’t help but change their facial expressions.

Seeing their expressions, Junior Ms.Qian quickly explained, "The kitchen has your Sixth Brother and the head chef. Your Second Sister-in-law didn’t take the helm."

Besides, if there were truly not enough hands in the kitchen, she could step up too.

Only then did Manbao breathe a sigh of relief.

Ms.Feng said irritably, "I’m just washing vegetables and dishes, not cooking. Why aren’t you at home instead of running around?"

Manbao replied confidently, "We went to the bookshop and ran into Lixue and the others, so we came along."

Upon hearing they went to the bookshop, Ms.Feng and the others didn’t ask more. They wouldn’t understand scholars’ matters anyway.

Zhou Liwei came down from upstairs and said, "There are three tables upstairs and two downstairs. Not many people left. Mother, you and Uncle and Auntie can head back. I’ll handle the rest."

Ms.Feng had no objection, and neither did Zhou Dalang and Junior Ms.Qian, but Zhou Sanlang and Ms.He, who were helping clean up in the kitchen, were less willing to leave.

Manbao was curious, "Third Brother, why do you all like staying in the restaurant so much now?"

Ms.He smiled at her little aunt without speaking, while Zhou Sanlang replied, "The Sixth Brother found his wife in this restaurant, and Liwei’s marriage is also somewhat linked to the restaurant."

Since they know only a few people in the capital and have limited channels to meet others, the restaurant is their best opportunity. So, they’ve recently enjoyed spending time there.

Apparently, Zhou Dalang had similar intentions.

Manbao was speechless for a moment.

After a pause, just as Manbao was about to ask a question, she noticed Zhou Sanlang suddenly perk up, lowered his voice, and whispered to her, "Manbao, look, she’s here."

Who’s here?

Manbao turned her head and saw a young lady carrying a basket entering through the shop door. Her gaze swept across the room and landed on Zhou Liwei, her eyes slightly curving. She immediately approached him.

Zhou Liwei, however, turned and went upstairs, while Zhou Lixue stepped up to greet her, asking with a cheerful smile, "Sister Jing, are you here for the steamed pork with rice powder again?"

The young lady watched Zhou Liwei disappear up the stairs, then shifted her attention back to Zhou Lixue and nodded, "Yes, could you please get me two bowls of steamed pork with rice powder to-go?"

She handed her basket to Zhou Lixue, who took it and subtly glanced at Zhou Ligu and Bai Shuping, then carried the basket to the kitchen to fill it.

Zhou Sanlang lamented, "That Ligu isn’t sharp at all. He didn’t even step up to greet her."

Manbao looked at him, wide-eyed, swallowed, and asked, "Third Brother, have you taken a liking to that young lady?"

Zhou Sanlang sighed, "What’s the use of me being interested? It’s mainly up to Ligu to take an interest. Strange, yesterday it was Ligu who served this young lady, but today it’s Lixue’s turn to serve her?"

Manbao: "... Third Brother, it’s a restaurant, not something that changes based on who’s talking to whom."

Zhou Sanlang nodded, "I know, but don’t you think those kids’ expressions seem a bit off? I think they all fancy the young lady, but they’re just too embarrassed to say anything. I wonder if that young lady would be interested in any of our kids."

If she doesn’t fancy his son but likes his nephew, that’s fine too.

Manbao carefully observed everyone’s expressions and thought to herself: It might actually be that she fancies your nephew, just not the one you think.

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