Go Take a Look

Mǎn Bǎo became curious. Although she had never planted anything herself, she had seen her older brother and sister-in-law plant things many times. She knew that planting involved digging a hole and sowing the seeds.

She had never known that there were so many different methods of cultivation.

Curious, Mǎn Bǎo used her points to buy several books on planting from the encyclopedia museum. She was surprised by this unexpected gain and happily suggested to Mǎn Bǎo, "Host, you can ask your brothers to retrieve the leftover yam roots that were removed earlier." As long as they haven't rotted, the seeds should still be usable.

Mǎn Bǎo happily agreed.

Yams were not easy to find. Apart from the twenty or so root tubers that Zhōu Wǔláng dug up from the ground and the leftover yam roots that were found, Zhōu Èrláng did not find any more yams in the mountains.

So, they attached great importance to the remaining root tubers and leftover yam roots. Although she still wanted to eat yams, she resisted the temptation.

Seeing her daughter drooling over a yam, Qián Shì thought for a moment and said to Qián Shì Jr., "Tomorrow, have Èrláng buy some meat when he goes to the market." Lǎo Sān is about to start his military service, and it's time to replenish his strength. During this time, everyone has been working hard.

Qián Shì Jr. agreed.

The construction of the Bai family's house had been underway for about twenty days, and it was already taking shape. However, Liú Shì had strict requirements, and even some of the pillars had to be carved. They had hired a special craftsman to do the work, so the progress was slower.

Despite the slow progress, there were advantages as their wages were paid daily.

Zhōu Dàláng and Zhōu Sìláng earned sixty wén a day.

Wages were paid every ten days, and by now, they had earned twelve hundred wén.

Zhōu Dàláng only handed over sixty percent of his earnings, while Zhōu Sìláng handed over all of his money to repay his gambling debts.

Zhōu Sìláng felt that working was a much faster way to make money than clearing land, so he decided to abandon the land and let it go fallow again.

In the end, Mǎn Bǎo, who had already planned everything, ruthlessly suppressed him. Of course, she couldn't suppress Fourth Brother, so she borrowed her father's authority.

When Lǎo Zhōu heard that Fourth Brother was neglecting his work again, he glared at him and said, "How long can you work?" As soon as the old lady's house is finished, you will immediately start working on the land for me.

Zhōu Sìláng weakly said, "It's freezing cold…"

"Freezing cold?" Your third brother is going to start his military service, and you can't work on the land?

Zhōu Sìláng lowered his head and submitted.

Mǎn Bǎo smirked triumphantly at him, and Zhōu Sìláng felt like he wasn't clearing the land for himself, but for Mǎn Bǎo.

Zhōu Wǔláng and Zhōu Lìuláng secretly chuckled and happily drank two more bowls of water.

The great enterprise of planting yams was all Mǎn Bǎo's idea, and the two of them were already envisioning a bountiful harvest next year.

If Fourth Brother didn't continue clearing the land, then the two brothers would have to do it themselves.

However, this money-making plan was still pending for the following year, even after the autumn harvest. The group of children still felt that their candy business couldn't be neglected. Zhōu Wǔláng now goes to the county town every other day and has become the primary candy supplier for the Fu family.

Of course, he had given himself this title.

Even though he only sold a hundred pieces every other day, after the initial novelty wore off, the children of the Fu family and their relatives couldn't consume that much candy. Being the exclusive supplier of candy to the county magistrate's family made Zhōu Wǔláng quite proud, so he gave himself this title.

Although he only earned a hundred wén every other day, and that had to be split among the three siblings, they still accumulated a considerable amount of money over the course of a month.

Mǎn Bǎo took on the task of buying candy, and she had more money than her two brothers. However, she also spent more by occasionally purchasing meat or buying a chicken.

Yes, she insisted on buying meat for the family, claiming it was to nourish her mother's body.

Sometimes she gave the money to Zhōu Wǔláng to buy it when he went to the county town, and other times she visited the village head's house and Zhōu Hǔ's house to watch their chickens.

And then, as she watched, the owners sold the chickens to her.

So, she couldn't save any money and basically spent as much as she earned.

The Zhou family had become accustomed to her sporadic purchases of meat and knew that they were secretly making money, although they didn't know exactly how they were earning it. However, since they estimated that Mǎn Bǎo was exchanging all her earnings for meat, they turned a blind eye and let her play.

As a result, the Zhou family's standard of living had improved significantly. Previously, they might not have been able to eat meat for one or two months, but now they can have it every three or four days.

Not only did the children's faces look rosier, but Qián Shì also seemed to have more energy.

Considering the evident benefits and the recent labor and woodcutting efforts by the family members, Qián Shì was willing to use public funds to buy meat.

After eating the meal, Zhōu Sānláng left to begin his duty.

This year, thanks to Mǎn Bǎo's early notice, many families in the village made preparations in advance for the men who were about to start their service. Many families, such as the Zhou family, had provided support to their men before they departed.

Carrying their bundles, they all walked together, and it was quite a sight.

Mǎn Bǎo and her friends crouched in the grass, peeking at the people as they walked away. As they emerged from the grass, they said, "So, Bai Ma Guan Town is in that direction."

Bái Èrláng sneered at her, "You don't even know where Bai Ma Guan Town is." How ignorant.

Mǎn Bǎo looked at him and asked, "Have you been to Bai Ma Guan Town?"

Bái Èrláng proudly replied, "Of course, I often accompany my father to collect rent."

Mǎn Bǎo asked, "Do you know the way?"

Bái Èrláng exclaimed, "Of course I do, I've been there several times."

"Then take us there."

Bái Èrláng asked, "What are you going to Bai Ma Guan Town for?"

Mǎn Bǎo said, "We want to see what it's like to start a service."

Bái Shànbǎo nodded, "We want to document it."

Bái Èrláng was puzzled, "Why do you want to record this?"

Mǎn Bǎo and Bái Shànbǎo looked at Bái Èrláng with disdain and sighed, "You wouldn't understand even if we told you, but we should still explain it to you." Education should be universal.

Bái Èrláng: Don't think he can't tell that this is an insult.

Mǎn Bǎo and Bái Shànbǎo pulled Bái Èrláng aside and explained their plan to him. Mǎn Bǎo felt that the county magistrate made people work without providing them with sufficient food, which was not characteristic of a good person.

But Master Zhuāng said that this was a common phenomenon, not just in their county.

In some counties, the county magistrate was even stricter, or the county office was poorer, and there was not even a bit of grain, so the laborers had to bring their own food.

It was difficult to change this situation.

But Mǎn Bǎo still asked Master Zhuāng what an ordinary person could do to change a certain situation. Master Zhuāng said that individuals could only become officials by working hard to attain high-ranking positions and then propose their own political views.

Compose a distinguished article that resonates with the wise individuals of the court and contributes to instigating change.

Becoming an official was too distant for Mǎn Bǎo to consider, so after discussing it with Bái Shànbǎo, they decided to write an article.

To write an article, they needed to understand how the laborers started their service, so they had to go and see for themselves.