The Lucky Farmgirl

Bai Shan stopped in his tracks, glanced at Manbao, and smiled, "Naturally."

He also lowered his voice, with a mysterious expression, "First, we need to have two children..."

Manbao held back her curiosity, stepped on his instep, and walked past. Bai Shan gasped and took two quick steps to catch up, holding her hand and laughing, "I’m serious, we need to think about the next steps once we have descendants."

He lowered his voice and said, "When our children grow up, we can split from the main family branch, or establish a single branch, or go to Mianzhou and form a branch with our cousin’s family."

Manbao asked, "Will the people in Longzhou agree?"

Bai Shan laughed, "It’s common for large trees to branch out, as long as I explain the reasoning, they’ll naturally agree."

This matter is not easy. Generally, families don’t branch out easily during peacetime.

Back then, the ancestors of Old Master Bai were able to split branches because it was during the previous dynasty’s turmoil, with constant uprisings everywhere, their relations with the main family were already distant, and they had some discord, making it difficult to continue living in Longzhou, which is why they followed the refugees to Mianzhou.

Later, they wrote back to the main family to report, and directly established a single branch in Mianzhou.

Because it coincided with the turmoil, clan members scattered and already settled in various places, making it impossible to demand their return to the main family.

Those who lost contact were just left out, and those they did contact, they wanted to branch out, and the main family basically agreed without much objection.

But now the country is peaceful and prosperous, and Bai Shan is newly appointed as a scholar, the most promising among his generation in the Bai Family, so wanting to branch out might not be easy.

Yet Bai Shan believes it’s up to human effort, as long as he has enough say and sufficient reasons, he can ultimately persuade the elders in charge to agree.

And after branching out, "we can teach our children and grandchildren well, let the Bai Family’s fame spread far and wide, not just remain as a declining small family in Longzhou."

Manbao teased, "You have quite the ambition, do you want to become part of the aristocracy on your own?"

"At least I can’t be too bad; I’ve already said I want to honor my ancestors," Bai Shan said with a smile, "But that’s not the main goal in life, it’s just a plan for the family’s future, and I think the Zhou Family also needs a future family plan."

"A good marriage, even if it doesn’t change the family’s status, still has a significant impact on the family. You and I have been close since childhood, childhood sweethearts, with the grace of our parents, so for the world, our marriage seems natural. But if Liru can also marry into the Liu Family, then in the eyes of the world, the Zhou Family is already capable of alliances with scholarly families; next, Lixue’s marriage would become much easier."

Manbao said, "I just fear that a great tree is not meant to pair with an unmatched plant."

"We all know Liu Huan’s character, and Minister Liu’s wife has expressed her opinions; next, it depends on Minister Liu," Bai Shan said, looking at her, "In fact, you’re better suited to discuss this marriage with the Liu Family than your father and mother, because you, like Minister Liu, serve in the same court, with not much difference in rank."

Manbao thought about it and indeed agreed.

Minister Liu is a third-rank official, but she is also a fourth-rank editor, isn’t she?

Manbao thought for a moment and said, "I’ll go ask Liru."

She had to inquire her opinion.

Zhou Liru thought for a good half hour before saying, "Auntie, the Liu Family’s status is too high. If I can’t become an imperial physician in the future, I still want to be a practicing doctor; otherwise, all my years of studying medical books would be wasted. Besides, I enjoy treating patients."

"What if the Liu Family is like the Bai Family and doesn’t mind or obstruct you?"

Zhou Liru’s eyes lit up, then hesitantly said, "Would their family be willing?"

Manbao now understood Zhou Liru’s attitude and waved her hand, "What’s difficult about this? I’ll ask Minister Liu."

Zhou Liru widened her eyes, her face slightly flushed, and said in a low voice, "It’s not good to ask Minister Liu about an affair without any early signs of it."

"The basic problem is right there, if it’s not clarified, you’ll never have any early signs of your affair. That early sign is this problem," Manbao said, "Once it’s clarified, you two can decide whether to add something more to that early sign."

Zhou Liru: ...

Then Manbao waited to attend the grand morning assembly.

As soon as the assembly ended, she immediately chased after Minister Liu, calling him while he was with the Ministers of Public Works and War, "Minister Liu, can we speak privately?"

The three elders turned their heads together to look at her.

Minister Liu seemed a bit wary, and Minister Han and the recently appointed Minister of Ministry of War, State Duke Zhao, squinted at her, also slightly wary, "Lord Zhou, don’t you only serve as a scholar at the Imperial Medical Office?"

Why are you inquiring about money?

The Spring Festival is approaching, all departments competing for funds are enemies.

Manbao glanced at them and said, "I’m not here for official business, but personal matters."

Minister Han and State Duke Zhao sighed in relief, and Minister Liu quickly became delighted, saying, "Alright, let’s step aside to talk."

Minister Han suddenly reacted, grabbing him, "Minister Liu, you can’t go back on your promises, I’ll submit a memorial to His Majesty at the next assembly."

Minister Liu pulled his sleeve out with force, "What did I promise you? We’re still discussing, and anyway, the state treasury isn’t up to me alone; it requires the Central Secretariat and Imperial Secretariat for approval, you know that. If you’re capable, go find Lord Wei."

Wei Zhi manages the Imperial Secretariat, specially reviewing proposals from the Six Ministries.

"You... Just now, you clearly softened up! The Yellow River estuary must be dredged. This year there’s little snow, and the Astronomical Bureau predicts potential drought in the Central Plains in the coming year, with likely abundant rainfall two years later, you..."

Minister Liu was already walking, pulling his sleeve and beckoning to Zhou Man, "Come, come, Lord Zhou, let’s go talk over there."

Manbao glanced at Minister Han sympathetically and gave him a suggestion, "You should present your proposal to Lord Wei, once the Imperial Secretariat approves, the matter is halfway settled."

The rest depends on the Ministry of Revenue for approval, which is Minister Liu’s job.

Minister Han gave Manbao a cool look, as if he didn’t know?

It was just that persuading Wei Zhi was difficult, that’s why he came to Minister Liu, likewise, once Minister Liu agreed, the matter was virtually half done, making it easier to submit to the Imperial Secretariat.

Meeting Minister Han’s gaze, Manbao slipped away.

State Duke Zhao grabbed Minister Han, "Alright, alright, soon it’ll be New Year, wait until the festival to bring this up when drinking, it’ll be more useful than right now."

Minister Han could only give up, then frowned, "What does Zhou Man want with old Liu?"

State Duke Zhao walked with hands behind his back, "Who knows, as long as it’s not official business."

Minister Liu thought the same, nearing New Year, which is also near spring, the annual big split of state funds is approaching, too many people have sought him lately, so much so that whenever he sees a department head, his spine instinctively tightens, all of them are coming to ask for funds.

Minister Liu and Zhou Man hid under a white marble bridge, leaning against the bridge while whispering, "Lord Zhou, thanks for the rescue."

Manbao: "No need, no need..."

"Need, need," Minister Liu laughed, "Minister Han is tough to deal with, State Duke Zhao doesn’t like reasoning, there aren’t many who could save me from their hands."

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