Falling Out

Qian: "So?"

"So let's make some dishes to sell to them." "Relying solely on soup is not conducive to good health," Keke said. People who do not consume vegetables for an extended period are more susceptible to illnesses, especially during cold weather. If they catch a cold, it could be fatal.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wulang immediately snatched the hundred wen from her hand. "What a joke." How do we set the prices for the dishes? Today, we almost got into a fight over a two-wen bowl of soup.

Lao Zhou, who was usually silent, furrowed his brow and asked, "Did you argue with someone?"

"Not exactly," Zhou Wulang hesitated, but eventually mentioned Lu Da's attempt to snatch the ladle. Although his feelings were vague, he sensed a minor conflict between them. If it weren't for Man Bao's sudden interruption, they might have actually fought.

After pondering for a moment, Lao Zhou looked at Man Bao and asked, "How do you plan to prepare these dishes?"

Man Bao began counting on her fingers. "We can stew cabbage, white radish, and even boil eggs!"

Most of the cabbage had been stored in the cellar, and only these two types of vegetables were left for everyone to eat.

Lao Zhou felt that the potential for this business was not very high. Setting the prices too high would make it unaffordable for the laborers, while setting them too low would result in a loss for them. However, considering his daughter's proposal, which had always been profitable, he did not oppose it.

He instructed Zhou Erlang and Xiao Qian to "think about how to prepare these dishes tonight." Tomorrow, go with them and inform the workers that we have six sons.

Zhou Erlang understood and took the hundred wen from Man Bao.

Man Bao didn't mind giving him the money and reminded him, "Second brother, buy some eggs." "We can sell them for one wen each, and with three eggs, we can earn one wen."

Eggs sold outside cost two wen for three, so selling them individually for one wen meant they would earn three fen per egg.

Zhou Erlang thought the profit was too small. He believed that it would be better to find another place for the laborers to work and make another pot of soup.

However, Man Bao disagreed and continued to chatter, "Third brother is so pitiful." I want to save the egg water from the morning for him to drink, but I'm afraid it will spill on the way there. "So, I'll just cook the eggs for him to eat."

She added, "Egg water is not tasty." Boiled eggs are delicious. My sister-in-law always makes me drink egg water. Tomorrow, I will ask my sister-in-law to cook the eggs for me. I don't want to drink egg water anymore.

Zhou Erlang noticed that she had forgotten about earning money from cooking and nodded insincerely, "I'll talk to my sister-in-law."

It was uncertain whether she would listen to him.

However, Man Bao mistakenly believed that her second brother had agreed to her request. She happily took the money she had earned and went to find Bai Shanbao.

Zhou Wulang accompanied her and lamented, "We worked hard all day and only earned fifteen wen." Man Bao, why are you spending so much money on expenses?

"I only spent ten wen," Man Bao didn't think the money was too little and reassured Zhou Wulang, "We will definitely earn more tomorrow."

"But it's not us who have the money." It's our second brother. "We will definitely get more," Zhou Wulang sighed. "Dad will definitely come to me for money tonight." It's so hard to save money. By the way, Man Bao, can you hold onto ten wen for me? If Dad asks, I'll give him five wen.

Man Bao agreed.

Zhou Wulang escorted Man Bao to the Bai family's door and watched her enter before returning home.

Man Bao was a familiar customer at the Bai family's house. She was escorted to the study by the Bai family's servants, and she entered hastily. Bai Shanbao had already finished dinner and was practicing calligraphy with a pen in hand.

Upon seeing Man Bao, he immediately set down the pen and waved his small hand, asking, "Why did you come so late?"

Man Bao praised him, "You are so diligent, already practicing calligraphy."

Bai Shanbao replied, "I don't want to be diligent." My grandmother made me practice. "I mentioned that I wrote many words today, but it was futile."

Man Bao took out her own paper and pen from her small box and said, "I'll practice with you."

With a companion, Bai Shanbao finally found some enthusiasm for calligraphy and sat down to write with Man Bao.

Man Bao recognized many characters, but without reference, she would often forget their appearance. The characters she wrote would often be missing strokes, have them in the wrong places, or sometimes a single character would become two.

However, Man Bao believed that these issues could be corrected. The main problem was that she always ended up with too much ink. What should she do when it turns into a blot?

Man Bao sighed sadly as she held the pen, then dipped it in ink, and earnestly wrote the first character on the paper.

At that moment, Liu noticed that Shanbao had finished reading the book and handed it to Daji, asking him to deliver it to the two children.

She still wanted to see what they would do with the book.

They had forgotten about their agreement to discuss writing characters. Man Bao and Bai Shanbao tossed the book aside and began critiquing each other's writing.

Bai Shanbao said to her, "Your handwriting is really messy."

Man Bao envied him, saying, "Your calligraphy is truly exquisite."

Feeling praised, Bai Shanbao thought that criticizing her didn't seem right and said, "It's okay." With more practice, you will improve. "I'll teach you."

Man Bao asked him, "Were your first attempts at writing characters also this ugly?"

"No, I've always had good handwriting since I was little," Bai Shanbao said. "I'm smarter than you."

Man Bao disagreed, "No, I'm smarter than you." "I'm the smartest within a hundred miles."

Bai Shanbao made a face at her and said, "You're a big talker."

"No," Man Bao said loudly, "I'm stating a fact!" I am the smartest.

"Why are your characters so ugly?" "I have memorized more books than you, and I have read more books than you."

Man Bao was stunned and asked herself in her heart, "Keke, who do you think is smarter, him or me?"

The system was in a dilemma. The intelligence values of the two were analyzed, and the conclusion was that "They're approximately equal."

"But there's still a difference." "Who do you think is lacking?"

Keke remained silent.

Man Bao burst into tears and pushed Bai Shanbao. "I'm not going to be friends with you anymore." I will be smarter than you in the future. Just wait and see, hmph!

Daji was dumbfounded on the side, completely unaware of how the two children had suddenly started arguing.

Bai Shanbao was pushed to the ground by her and also became angry. He got up and pushed Man Bao, causing her to fall to the ground. He was still embarrassed and said to her, "You're dumber than me, but you won't admit it." "Crybaby, I won't play with you anymore."