95: Chapter 84: Go and See 95: Chapter 84: Go and See Manbao became curious, although she had never farmed herself, she had often watched her brothers and sisters-in-law at work, knowing that planting simply involved digging a hole and dropping the seed in.

She had no idea that there were so many different handling techniques.

Curiosity piqued, Manbao spent her points to buy several books on planting from the encyclopedia, an unexpected gain that delighted Keke, who even suggested to Manbao, “Host, you could ask your brothers to retrieve the true yam that was pulled out earlier.

As long as it hasn’t rotted, it should still be usable as seed.”

Manbao happily agreed.

Finding yams wasn’t an easy task; aside from the twenty or so tubers that Zhou Wulang and the others dug up from the ground and the true yam they recovered, Zhou Erlang wasn’t able to find any more yams in the mountains.

So, Manbao and her family treasured the remaining tubers and true yams highly.

Despite her desire to eat yam, she restrained herself.

Seeing her daughter salivating over a piece of yam, Ms.Qian thought for a moment and said to Junior Ms.Qian, “Let Erlang buy some meat when he goes to the market tomorrow.

Third is about to enter into service, and he should get some nourishment—everyone’s been quite worn out recently.”

Junior Ms.Qian complied.

The construction of the Bai Family’s residence had already been underway for about twenty days and was starting to take shape.

However, Ms.Liu demanded high standards, insisting on decorative carvings on some of the columns, and hence hired specialized craftsmen, which slowed down the progress.

But there were advantages to the slower pace since their wages were settled daily.

Zhou Dalang and Zhou Silang earned sixty wen for a day’s work.

Their wages were settled every ten days, and by now, they had already brought home twelve hundred wen.

Zhou Dalang only handed over sixty percent of his earnings, but Zhou Silang turned over all of his money to pay off his gambling debts.

Zhou Silang felt that working construction made money much faster than clearing land did.

Because of this, he even resisted Manbao’s ideas for a moment, thinking that land clearing was useless and wanted to let the cleared land go fallow again.

But in the end, he was firmly overruled by Manbao, who had already planned everything.

Of course, she couldn’t overrule Silang herself, so she borrowed her father’s authority.

Upon hearing that Four was thinking of starting something without following through again, Old Zhou’s eyes widened with fury, “How long do you think you can keep on working?

Once the old madam Bai’s house is finished, you’ll get right back to farming.”

Zhou Silang meekly said, “But it’s cold and the ground is frozen…”

“It’s cold and the ground is frozen, yet your Third Brother is still going into service.

Does that mean you can’t work the land?”

Zhou Silang hung his head in surrender.

Manbao gleefully made a face at him, and Zhou Silang felt like he wasn’t clearing land for himself, but rather for Manbao.

Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang secretly shared a laugh, drinking an extra couple bowls of water in their happiness.

The grand task of planting yams had always been led by Manbao’s ideas, with the two of them in charge of the action.

They had long envisioned the bountiful harvest of the next year.

If Silang decided not to continue clearing the land, then it would be up to the two brothers to take matters into their own hands.

However, this lucrative plan was, after all, a matter for next year, and even then, not until after the autumn harvest.

Nevertheless, the group of children still felt that their candy business could not be neglected, and now Zhou Wulang would travel to the county town every other day, becoming the primary candy supplier for the Fu Family.

Of course, that title was self-proclaimed.

Even if he only went to the county town every other day, he sold only about a hundred pieces of candy.

After the initial novelty, the children from the Fu family and their relatives couldn’t possibly eat that much candy.

But being the exclusive candy supplier for the county magistrate’s family, Zhou Wulang felt a bit of pride, hence he assumed that title for himself.

Even though he could only earn a hundred wen every other day, and that hundred wen had to be shared with his two siblings, by the end of the month they had accumulated a fair amount of money.

Manbao, charged with the task of “buying sweets,” ended up with more money than her two brothers.

But she spent more too—she would buy meat every few days, or go buy a chicken.

Indeed, she insisted on bringing meat to the family, purportedly to nourish their mother.

Sometimes she gave the money to Zhou Wulang to buy meat when he went to town, and other times she would go to the village chief or Zhou Hu’s house and watch their chickens closely.

As she watched, the owners would end up selling her the chickens.

Therefore, her money never lasted—she spent whatever she had.

The Zhou Family had grown accustomed to her bringing meat home every few days and were aware they were secretly earning money.

Although they did not know exactly what they were doing to earn it, it didn’t seem like misconduct.

Considering Manbao likely exchanged all her earnings for meat, the Zhou Family turned a blind eye, allowing them to continue with their activities.

As a result, the Zhou Family’s living standards improved greatly.

Where they once might not have meat for a month or two, now they could have it every few days.

Not only did the children’s faces grow rosier, but Ms.Qian herself seemed more vigorous.

Because the benefits were clear and considering the recent work done outside the home, felling trees, harvesting firewood, and such, Ms.Qian was willing to spend money from the communal pot to buy meat just this once.

After enjoying the meat, Zhou Sanlang packed up his belongings and went off to serve.

This year, with advance notice from Manbao, the villagers prepared earlier for their service duty.

Like the Zhou family, many gave their parting menfolk a bit of nourishment before they left.

They set off together, bags on backs, a sight both impressive and imposing.

Manbao and a group of friends crouched in the bushes, peering out as they watched them walk away, then emerged from the bushes, “So the town of White Horse Pass is in that direction.”

Bai Erlang looked down on her, “You don’t even know where the town of White Horse Pass is?

You’re so dumb.”

Manbao turned to him, “Have you been to White Horse Pass?”

Bai Erlang boasted, “Of course, I frequently accompany my dad to collect rent.”

Manbao: “Do you know the way then?”

Bai Erlang declared, “Of course, I do!

I’ve been there several times.”

“Then lead us there.”

Bai Erlang asked, “What do you want in White Horse Pass?”

Manbao: “We want to see what service duty is like.”

Bai Shanbao nodded, “We need to document it.”

Bai Erlang was confused, “Why do you need to record that?”

Manbao and Bai Shanbao both disdained his intelligence, explaining with a sigh, “Even if we told you, you wouldn’t understand.

But we should still tell you a bit since as the teacher says, ‘education should be without discrimination.’

Bai Erlang: Don’t think he can’t tell they’re speaking ill of him.

Manbao and Bai Shanbao pulled Bai Erlang aside to tell him about their plan.

Manbao thought it was unkind that the magistrate made people work without providing enough food.

But Mr.

Zhuang said that it was a common occurrence, not just in their county.

In some counties, either the county magistrate was harsher, or the County Governmental Office was poorer, and the laborers didn’t even get that meager ration of food; they had to bring their own provisions.

Changing such a situation was tough.

Still, Manbao asked about how ordinary people might go about changing a certain situation.

Mr.

Zhuang replied that one would need to become an official, and after reaching higher ranks, propose their political views.

Or, write a famous essay that would be read by insightful officials in the capital, who would then be moved to strive for change.

The idea of becoming an official was too far-fetched for Manbao to consider, so after discussing with Bai Shanbao, they decided to write an essay.

But to write it, they needed to understand how the laborers served, and so they had to go see for themselves.