Rumors

However, some families, spanning from the elderly to the youth, were not satisfied. The neighbors of the Manbao family heard the commotion next door and became so angry that they started to quarrel and curse in a hushed voice, "Uneducated individuals, making noise all day long." Can't they be quiet for a moment?

"What are you saying?" Zhou Dayuan glared at her, then curiously glanced at their grandchildren before ushering them away. Only then did he say, "If you're not afraid of your aunt coming to block your door, then go ahead and speak."

The thin, old lady started to grumble but then lowered her voice. She was about the same age as Qian Shi, and both of them had married into Qili Village, one after the other.

Don't be fooled by Qian Shi's gentle and smiling appearance as she spends her days at home with her grandchildren and neighbors. She used to be fierce when she was young.

Seven or eight years ago, she was a dominant figure in the village; even the village head's wife didn't dare to provoke her.

The Zhou family used to be very poor, but she helped them rise up. Although people in the village often criticized her for spending money on medicine and burdening the old Zhou family, everyone knew deep down that she was the pillar of support for the Zhou family and their lifeline.

But she still felt a bit dissatisfied. This dissatisfaction stemmed not only from jealousy but also from accumulated grievances from her youth.

As Manbao started school, the Zhou family reached the peak of their liveliness. Although she lowered her voice when scolding, she deliberately knocked on the door and table with her stick, shouting towards the direction of the old Zhou family, "It's already dark, why are you still wandering outside? Tomorrow, go to the mountains to gather firewood." "You can't even find a job; you deserve to suffer!"

There is a specific distance between the houses in the village. When selecting a location to construct a house, they considered the future need for their children to build their own houses. Therefore, there was intentional separation between each family.

There was a significant distance between the Manbao family's house and the neighboring houses.

However, this distance was limited, and the houses were not soundproof. If people spoke loudly in the yard, the neighbors could hear.

At that moment, Manbao overheard the conversation, unaware that the neighbor's wife was gossiping about her. She turned her head and looked at the Zhou family with special concern, sighing like an adult, "Dayuan's wife is scolding them again." Teaching children should be done with praise. How can she keep scolding them?

Zhou Silang and others said, "Call her sister-in-law; don't always refer to her as Dayuan's wife." "She's about the same age as your mother."

"She is Dayuan's wife, isn't she?" "It's just a form of address, don't take it seriously," she said as she went to find her three sisters-in-law. "Sisters-in-law, don't learn from Dayuan's wife in the future." When dealing with Big Head and Big Miss, you should praise them; don't always scold them. I see that Big Donkey has been made stupid by his mother's scolding.

The three sisters-in-law smiled and agreed, then glared at the happy Big Head and Big Miss, deciding to educate them once more in the house.

Old Zhou turned to his wife and said, "Manbao learned this from you. Teach her not to speak like this outside."

Qian Shi didn't care and said, "Don't worry, our daughter is not stupid."

She added, "Do you see her calling Daguyu's wife like this?" She calls her sister-in-law. This child is clever; she knows whom to call sister-in-law and whom not to. She knows better than anyone.

Old Zhou noticed his wife's disdainful look towards the Zhou family and asked the children to catch fireflies, adding more liveliness to the yard.

At the same time, the clinking and clattering in the Zhou family's house became even more cheerful, and the smile on Qian Shi's lips grew wider.

Old Zhou turned his head back, intending not to say anything more.

While the children on this side were playing happily, the atmosphere in the Zhou family's house was oppressive. The children stayed inside and dared not come out, while Daguyu's wife couldn't help muttering softly, "Mother is really something." She tells us to sleep, but she's out there making noise. How can we sleep with all this noise?

Daguyu remained silent.

Daguyu's wife continued, "People should be able to play in their own yard, isn't that their right?" If mother didn't make so much noise, we could fall asleep even faster while listening to the laughter outside.

"Enough, if you have the guts, go talk to mother."

Daguyu's wife was very angry, so she turned her back on him and hugged the children to comfort them, ignoring him.

Her child asked her in a low voice, "Mom, why doesn't grandma like Manbao?"

"Because she's smart!"

"Gosh, isn't it good to be smart?"

"It's good, but not when it's not your own," Daguyu's wife glanced at Daguyu.

Daguyu's face turned red, and he couldn't help but slap her, saying, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"What nonsense?" Is what you said wrong? Your mother is envious of the old Zhou family and Qian's wife. She constantly claims that I am unable to bear children and that the children I have given birth to are worthless. I want to give birth to a golden egg, a silver egg, as smart as Manbao. Do you have that ability?

Daguyu's wife was already full of anger. With her mother-in-law still knocking and making noise outside, her anger was like a web, rising up in strands. She didn't care that her children were beside her as she directly fired off a series of questions, "Have you ever looked into your father's family?" "What kind of person are you?" "Can I give birth to a child just because I want to?"

Daguyu was so angry that his eyes turned red, and he said without restraint, "Her mother is a scholar's daughter, what about you?"

"Forget it, if he says so, then it is." Who has ever seen his wife's family?

The couple had a quarrel, and Goudan and his younger siblings hid under their blankets, their eyes shining.

He was eight years old this year, just one year younger than Big Head, and he was already sensible. The next day, he went to find his little friends and secretly told them, "Manbao wasn't born to her parents!"

Children are the worst at keeping secrets, and in less than half a day, most of the children in the village had heard the rumor, but it was only known among the younger children. The older children hadn't heard about it.

So, Big Head went to each one of them and quickly found the source of the rumor—Goudan.

Big Head punched Goudan and said, "I see that you don't resemble either of your parents, so you must not be their biological child!"

Goudan, with a nosebleed, cried and shouted, "You're lying." This is what my parents said: "Your sister was not born to your grandparents; my grandmother also mentioned that your sister was not taught by anyone." If she wasn't born to anyone, what is she?

Big Head was so angry that he punched Goudan again and said, "You're the one who wasn't taught." "Who taught you to spread such idle talk?"

Chapter 69: Home Visit

Gou Dan returned home in tears to find his grandmother, but Da Tou was not afraid of him. He also ran home to find his grandmother. "Grandma, someone outside said bad things about Xiao Gu!"

Qian's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "What did they say, and who said it?"

"Gou Dan's grandmother said that Xiao Gu is not the grandchild of my grandparents!"

The smile on Qian's face faded as she set aside the unfinished insole in her hand. She propped up the chair and looked outside.

Coincidentally, Zhou Dayuan's daughter-in-law, Zhang, also brought her grandson, Gou Dan, along.

In the village, it is common for children to argue, but it is uncommon for them to be physically assaulted.

Not to mention Zhang, even ordinary families would be angry.

Zhang has always been at odds with Qian, and it is even more impossible for her to let this matter go. Seeing her grandson being beaten like this, she didn't even ask for the reason; she directly brought the person here to demand an explanation.

Before she could ask a question, Qian spoke first, "You came just in time." "I heard from my eldest grandson that your grandson said you mentioned, 'My son Man Bao is not my child?'"

Zhang suddenly came to her senses.

"Then we will go to the village chief's house and ask the elders of the village to clarify whether Man Bao is my child."

Zhang's face turned pale as she looked down at her grandson, unsure if he had overheard her talking to the old man.

At this moment, although Zhang felt somewhat guilty, she was more angry. She said, "Qian, who knows where the child heard such words?" Anyway, I never said such things. Even if that's the case, your Da Tou cannot beat our Gou Dan. He is only one year older than our Gou Dan.

Qian said, "The words came from your grandson; he said it was said by you."

Zhang was speechless.

Qian then looked at Da Tou and said, "Go to the mountain and bring your grandfather and father back." We are going to the village chief's house.

Only then did Zhang become a little flustered and said, "Qian, it's just a fight between two children. It's embarrassing for your family to make a scene at the village chief's house." My family cannot afford to lose face.

"If it were just a fight between two children, I would discipline my son for beating Gou Dan." But this also involves my daughter, Man Bao. I want you to publicly declare in front of all the elders and villagers whether Man Bao is my child. Whether you have been spreading rumors or I have been cheating with Zhou Jin behind his back.

Zhang was so angry that she almost spoke out of turn. Who in the village doesn't know who Man Bao's parents are?

Under Qian's gaze, Zhang dared not speak out.

Qian, unlike her usual gentle self, forcefully dragged Zhang to the village chief's house.

Due to this dispute, numerous household heads in the village were summoned back from the fields, and many children rushed over to witness the commotion. Although Qian wanted the children to watch, she didn't want the situation to escalate into ugliness, as it would not be good for Man Bao.

So, she sent the children away and only allowed the elders and household heads to stay.

Man Bao was unaware of all this. At this moment, she was whispering with Bai Shanbao.

Bai Shanbao said, "I have thought about it. I want to become very powerful, and to achieve that, I need to study." "I want to study in order to become powerful."

Man Bao asked him, "How powerful do you need to be to be considered powerful?"

Bai Shanbao had contemplated it for a long time last night and expressed, "I need someone more influential than the head of our Bai family, more powerful than anyone within the Bai family, to ensure that neither I nor my grandmother and mother are subjected to bullying."

He didn't study for the glory of his ancestors or to carry on his father's legacy. He didn't think his ancestors had any glory worth carrying on, and he didn't have much of an impression of his father, who only existed in the words of his grandmother and mother.

He whispered to Man Bao, "When I studied at the family school, because I didn't have a father, they always bullied me." "Even the teachers blamed me for any disputes I had, saying it was my fault because I lacked education."

He snorted, "I am not lacking in education. My grandmother taught me many principles when I was young, and I remember them all."

Man Bao indignantly said, "They are really mean!"

Bai Shanbao nodded, "But they are not the worst." The worst are those uncles, aunts, and the head of the family. Because I don't have a father, they want our family's property. My mother said, "The property is for me to study and marry."

Bai Shanbao still remembered hiding behind the screen and watching his grandmother plead with those people. He looked at Man Bao with a hint of resentment and stubbornness, gritting his teeth. "My mother said that the head of the family is the governor of Jingzhou, and my fifth uncle is an official in the capital." That's why they have the confidence to take over our family's property. Hmph, I will be even more powerful than them in the future and hold an even higher position than them.

Man Bao applauded him, "You will definitely succeed. The imperial examinations are challenging, but you are very intelligent."

Bai Shanbao looked at her and asked, "How do you know?"

Man Bao confidently said, "I guess, we are both smart people."

She then asked the system, "Are the imperial examinations difficult?"

The system replied, "Very difficult!"

Man Bao's eyes widened, "Didn't you say that Shanbao and I are very clever?"

The system said, "There are many clever people in the world, and even more diligent and clever people." Only twenty people passed the imperial examinations this year, and just ninety-eight passed the Mingjing. Bai Shanbao is very clever, but diligence is not guaranteed at his young age. "Studying is not just about talent."

Man Bao earnestly said to Bai Shanbao, "You must study diligently; otherwise, even if the imperial examinations are not difficult, you may still fail."

She felt a little guilty because she shouldn't have made such a definitive statement earlier. Now, changing her mind would not only damage her "authority" but also discourage her little friend.

The system took the opportunity to educate her, "So in the future, it's better to conduct an investigation before drawing conclusions." There is an old saying that goes, "Without investigation, there is no right to speak.""'"

Man Bao asked, "Who said this?"

"For me, it's an ancient person, but for the host, it's a future person."

Man Bao nodded, "So it's a saying from my ancestors."

The system fell silent.

At this point, Man Bao had no other choice but to urge Bai Shanbao to study hard. Otherwise, if he failed the imperial examinations in the future, how could she explain it to him?

Man Bao took the initiative to study with him for this reason. However, due to her young age, her progress was slower. She would study first and then ask him for explanations.

But she was careful not to disturb him, as the teacher had said, "Reviewing the old to learn the new." While she asked him for help, he was also reviewing, so each time they could gain new knowledge.

After school, Man Bao carried her small bookcase and followed Bai Shanbao out of the classroom. While they were still discussing the interpretation of a passage she had just asked him about, they didn't notice that Da Tou hadn't come to pick her up.

As they walked and talked, they naturally arrived at the Bai family's house. After greeting Mrs. Liu, they went to the study to read.

They took out the bamboo slips from behind the books, observed them curiously, and then put them back before searching for other books.

Man Bao believed that in order to pass the imperial examinations, it was necessary to read numerous books. Therefore, even if some books were challenging to comprehend, they had to be read.

Of course, to avoid making things difficult for themselves, they would first look for books that interested them.

Chapter 70: Eating Meat (Starting Point Recommended Ticket Ten Thousand Plus)

Manbao searched for a long time before finding a book with illustrations. After looking at it for a while, she realized that it was a book recording various herbs, some with pictures and others with only textual descriptions.

Behind the names of the herbs were their main places of origin, therapeutic effects, and preparation methods.

Manbao's spirits lifted as she sat down on the ground, thoroughly engrossed in reading.

When she encountered words she didn't recognize, she asked Keke for help. Similarly, when she came across sentences she didn't understand, she turned to Keke for clarification. Although she read haltingly, she was still very interested in continuing.

Baishanbao, on the other hand, found a book specifically about supernatural beings and mysterious stories.

The beginning of the book featured the author's self-praise, asserting that it was grounded in his travels and the observations he had made in different locations, all of which were accurate.

Baishanbao, like Manbao, also loved reading storybooks. He didn't enjoy reading other types of books, but he was thoroughly engrossed in this particular genre.

Why did he particularly enjoy reading "The Analects" and listening to Mr. Zhuang's lectures?

"The Analects" focus on the words and deeds of Confucius, each consisting of small stories. Mr. Zhuang's lectures also emphasized the element of interest by explaining each sentence, its origin, and the situation at the time, making it feel like listening to a story. He loved it immensely.

The two children sat together, each with a book, thoroughly engrossed in their reading.

Mrs. Liu brought her daughter-in-law to take a look. Seeing the two children engrossed, she asked her daughter-in-law to set the food on the table and then left quietly.

Mrs. Zheng was pleasantly surprised and whispered, "Shanbao is actually reading books on his own, and so attentively…"

It's worth noting that Baishanbao used to dislike reading at home. On several occasions, he even hid books to avoid attending the family school.

Every time he came home from school, he would play with the neighborhood boys and servants, climbing trees, swimming, catching bugs, and play-fighting. He did all sorts of mischievous things.

Mrs. Liu also smiled, "So this time we moved to the right place."

Mrs. Zheng also nodded repeatedly, not minding that her mother-in-law insisted on moving to this remote valley. Originally, she had suggested taking the children back to her mother's house.

If they were uncomfortable, they could buy a house near her mother's house, with the Zheng family for support. Life would be better that way.

She never expected her mother-in-law to insist on coming to Qili Village. It was inconvenient to commute, and there were no distinguished teachers here. She had secretly cried many nights, but now she felt that everything was worth it, as long as their Shanbao could study well.

Mrs. Liu said, "The land has been chosen. I will go to the county town tomorrow to exchange some copper coins, and the foundation should be dug as soon as possible." Since we have decided to settle here, the house should be improved.

Mrs. Liu had no objections.

Baishanbao and Manbao were unaware that adults had come by. After being engrossed in reading for a long time, they felt their eyes getting tired. Consequently, they stood up from the ground to take a walk.

Upon seeing some snacks and water on the table, Shanbao promptly called Manbao to come and eat.

The two of them enjoyed the snacks and then sat in chairs to continue reading until a servant came to report that Manbao's guardian had arrived to take her home.

Manbao put the book back, said goodbye to Shanbao, and left happily.

Baishanbao, of course, accompanied her, mainly because he didn't want to read alone.

He escorted her to the gate and watched her leave with her guardian. Then he didn't go back to reading; instead, he went to find his grandmother. On his way, he noticed some beautiful insects on the flowers in the garden and got distracted from searching for his grandmother. He decided to catch the insects in the garden instead.

He caused quite a bit of damage to the flowers and plants in the garden. Feeling guilty, he ran back to find his grandmother.

When Manbao walked back with her guardian, she suddenly remembered that he hadn't come to pick her up in the afternoon. She quickly asked him where he had been.

Before coming, the guardian had been warned not to tell the little girl about these things, so he said, "I went to play and lost track of time."

Manbao, being very loyal, said, "Don't worry, I won't tell my mother and sister-in-law."

The guardian thought to himself, "Even if you don't tell them, they'll find out."

But it was still very commendable for the little girl to have this awareness, so he thanked her.

From the Bai family to the Zhou family, there was quite a distance. The Zhou family was not far from the village entrance, but there were several other families nearby. People enjoyed gathering and chatting under the big banyan tree, which was located close to the village entrance. So, every time Manbao passed by, she could see many people there.

But this time, there was no one there, not even the children playing on the road.

Manbao was very curious and asked, "Where are the people in the village?"

"They're at home."

"What are they doing at home?" "Why aren't they coming out to chat?"

The guardian couldn't help but say, "They're working and having dinner." It's dinner time now.

"But there are always people here." They even like to bring their meals outside and squat to eat. Why is no one here this time?

The guardian felt a little guilty, "Maybe there's meat at home today?"

Only when there was meat at home would those people refrain from coming out with their bowls to eat.

At the mention of meat, Manbao's eyes lit up, and she ran home, shouting, "Meat, meat, chicken meat!" "We're going to have chicken for dinner tonight."

The guardian was stunned for a moment, then followed her with his mouth watering.

Before they even reached home, the two children smelled the aroma of meat and couldn't help but salivate. They ran home eagerly.

Mrs. Xiao had not started cooking yet. When she saw her daughter-in-law carrying her book bag and her silly son with empty hands, she tapped his forehead and said, "You're such a blockhead." "Your little sister is younger than you, and you can't even take her book bag?"

The guardian immediately took Manbao's book bag and returned it to her room. Then, she came out and stood outside the kitchen with Manbao and her younger siblings, eagerly watching the steaming clay pot inside.

It smelled so good!

The system sensed the host's desire and spoke at the right time, "So, host, do you now understand the benefits of points?"

Manbao, smelling the meat and feeling a bit hungry, was a bit slow in her thinking and responded with a puzzled "Hmm?"

The system said, "Points can be exchanged for candy, and candy can be exchanged for the currency of your time." With enough points, it is not difficult for the host to live a good life.

Manbao then said, "Oh, right. When are you going to give me the points for the Chinese scholar tree?" "Haven't you calculated it yet?"

After a moment of silence, the system responded with a "Hmm" and asked the host to be patient.

Manbao felt that she couldn't just wait for those points. It seemed that she needed to pick some flowers and plants that she hadn't picked before to give to Keke.

But her older brothers were so clueless. Despite the abundance of flowers and plants in the woods, she couldn't find a single one. It seemed that she would have to go by herself.

Manbao thought about when she could find time to go up the mountain. Of course, she couldn't go alone; she needed someone to accompany her.

During dinner, the whole family looked at Manbao with affectionate expressions. Zhou Siliang even reluctantly gave a piece of meat from his bowl to Manbao, saying, "Younger sister, if anyone bullies you in the future, tell Fourth Brother, and he will beat them up for you."

Zhou Wulang and the others also didn't want to be left out, so they all contributed a piece of meat from their bowls to her, expressing the same sentiment.

Manbao, with her mouth full of oil, looked up in confusion and said, "No one bullies me."

"We know, but we agreed in advance." If you ever face bullying in the future, whether it's a physical altercation or a verbal dispute, simply inform your brothers, and we will handle the situation for you.