Harmony

Mǎn Bǎo felt that the bailiff had questions to ask, but Láodīng also had questions. However, she was not in a hurry, so she and Bái Shànbǎo squatted in front of the bailiff and first asked him what his name was. Was he always a bailiff, or was he temporarily recruited to supervise labor?

The bailiff felt that these two children asked very detailed questions and curiously asked, "Does your master also manage this?"

"Our master doesn't control, but we desire to understand," Kēkē said. She had mentioned before that despite the small details of the investigation, every minor detail could potentially impact the overall picture. Therefore, it was necessary to collect as much information as possible.

Only in this way could the problem be more comprehensively reflected, and solutions be found.

Of course, Mǎn Bǎo didn't understand these words, but she knew one thing: to collect as much information as possible. Kēkē had also given her a reference template.

Mǎn Bǎo and Bái Shànbǎo discussed and added more and more questions. Since they were asking for the bailiff's name, they might as well ask about his age. And if they asked about his age, they might as well ask if he was married, if he had children at home…

The two children added numerous questions to their survey form, one after another.

As the bailiff remained silent, the two of them sat in front of him with their notebooks, taking turns to ask him questions.

To prevent him from getting annoyed, Mǎn Bǎo took out a candy from her pocket and placed it in his hand, offering it to him.

The bailiff, who had originally looked serious, relaxed and took the candy. After all, Mǎn Bǎo and Bái Shànbǎo were so cute. He also sat on the grass and said, "My father works in the yamen, so I work there too." "I have two brothers, and I'm the oldest..."

Bái Èrláng also enjoyed listening to these idle talks, squatting on the side and listening with great interest.

Zhōu Wǔláng and Zhōu Liùláng looked at each other and quietly approached Zhōu Sānláng. Seeing that the other two bailiffs did not object, they took over their third brother's work. The three brothers shared the workload of one person, not only allowing them to work at a relaxed pace and rest occasionally but also enabling them to chat.

The laborers looked at Zhōu Sānláng with envy.

Zhōu Sānláng was always honest and seldom looked at with suspicion. He was a bit at a loss, not knowing if it was because he was flustered or because of the cold wind; his face flushed.

After questioning the bailiffs, Mǎn Bǎo and Bái Shànbǎo went to ask the laborers. The other two bailiffs also curiously walked over to take a look. Mǎn Bǎo generously gave each of them a candy and warmly interviewed them.

Of course, the laborers also received a candy each.

Mǎn Bǎo gave a candy to each person she asked, and the laborers were very willing to answer her questions. Not only could they stop their work and rest while answering, but they could also enjoy a candy. The bailiffs had no objections either.

Bái Shànbǎo's small hand was tired from writing, so he handed the pen to Bái Èrláng, asking him to take over.

Bái Èrláng didn't like writing very much, so he reluctantly took the pen.

Mǎn Bǎo also said, "If you don't want to, I'll do it!"

"No," Bái Shànbǎo refused without thinking, "There's definitely not enough space in the notebook for you to write." Your handwriting is not only ugly but also wasteful of ink and paper.

Although Mǎn Bǎo knew that Bái Shànbǎo was speaking the truth, she still pouted unhappily.

She had just started learning to write, so, of course, her writing was not good. It will definitely improve in the future!

The bailiffs couldn't help but be curious and asked, "Who is your master?" "Why did he ask you to record these things?"

Bái Shànbǎo was tired from writing, so he sat and chatted with them. Their master was so powerful...

In Bái Shànbǎo's heart, their master was indeed very powerful, at least much more powerful than the masters in the clan school.

The three bailiffs' children were about the same age, so they were very tolerant of them and didn't mind their mischief at the construction site. They chatted with enthusiasm.

The atmosphere became more and more harmonious. Even the laborers who had not been interviewed occasionally looked over, and the bailiffs didn't scold them or even whip them.

With this relaxation, the progress of the project was surprisingly fast.

One person loosened the soil with a hoe, another dug up the loosened soil and put it in a basket, and then two people carried the basket to fill the pit on the official road.

Everyone's cooperation improved progressively, and taking occasional breaks actually accelerated the work.

In the afternoon, someone came to deliver dinner. The bailiffs rang the gong and asked everyone to line up to receive their meal.

Each person received a gray piece of bread. Since Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang had also worked in the afternoon, the bailiffs, upon seeing the three children, gave them two pieces of bread.

The two brothers naturally didn't eat the bread and gave it directly to Zhōu Sānláng.

Zhōu Sānláng smiled at them, placed the bread in his arms, and went to get his own bowl. He then fetched a bowl of water.

The water was brought with the bread. The bread was already cold, so the water was not hot, but at least it had been boiled. He gulped down a bowl of water, then ate the bread with the cold water.

Mǎn Bǎo squatted on the side, watching, and swallowed her saliva along with Bái Shànbǎo.

Zhōu Sānláng:…

He thought for a moment, then divided one piece of bread between the two children.

Bái Shànbǎo and Mǎn Bǎo, seeing him enjoy the bread, didn't know that it wasn't tasty, so they directly took a bite.

It was a bit cold and hard, but the two children tore off a piece like wolves and chewed on it. "They commented, 'It's a bit sweet.'"

Bái Shànbǎo chewed and struggled to swallow, saying, "It would be better if it were a bit softer, and the flour wasn't ground finely enough."

Zhōu Wǔláng couldn't help but say to the two of them, "It's good to have something to eat." Stop being so picky. "Both of you, quickly take your things and go home."

Mǎn Bǎo took a sip of the cold water from Zhōu Sānláng's bowl, watched her third brother for a while, and then gave him the remaining bread.

She solemnly held his rough hand and said, "Third brother, we'll come to see you tomorrow." We'll make meat soup for you then.

Zhōu Wǔláng and Zhōu Liùláng:…

Zhōu Sānláng hurriedly said, "Don't come." If my parents find out, they'll beat you. "why are you here? This is a construction site."

He said, "Lǎowǔ mentioned that you wanted to write an article, and you have already approached many people today. Isn't that enough?

"Not enough, not enough," Man Bao said, "I haven't finished asking yet."

They didn't understand the matter of studying, so even if Zhōu Sānláng wanted to advise them, he didn't know how. He just said, "When you go out, you must bring your fifth brother with you, understand?"

Mǎn Bǎo nodded.

Reluctantly, they left.

They had just walked a short distance when they heard the bailiffs banging the gong and shouting, "Hurry up, finish eating, and then go dig." "There's only a small section left, and it must be completed before sunset."

Mǎn Bǎo looked back and clutched the small bundle in her hand.

Bái Shànbǎo also felt a bit depressed and turned to talk to Bái Èrláng. Seeing that he was already happily bouncing around on the road, she could only turn back to talk to Mǎn Bǎo, "My mother said that drinking cold water can make you sick." "They should drink hot water."

Mǎn Bǎo nodded.