The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 110 - 99: Planting Ginger

Chapter 110: Chapter 99: Planting Ginger

Manbao was crying as she was sent home by a maid from the Bai Family. To cheer her up, Ms. Liu also gave her many pastries. However, even with the pastries, Manbao still insisted on not forgiving Bai Shanbao and decided not to be friends with him anymore.

Zhou Family: ...

When they heard about how Manbao argued and fought with the young master of the Bai Family, they didn’t fuss over it. Aren’t such quarrels and scuffles normal among children?

Even Ms. Qian didn’t comfort her much, only telling her to wash up and go to bed.

Manbao’s attention was quickly diverted, and after a sleep, she forgot all about the incident.

When she got up, Zhou Erlang had already taken Zhou Wulang to the big market. Although today was not market day, there would still be meat stalls in Dali Village. To buy meat, one would have to go to the county town or Dali Village.

Having nothing to do, Manbao used her points in the shopping mall to buy ginger chunks she had set her sights on the day before. Then taking out two chunks, she decided to try if she could grow them, saving the rest for spring.

Of course, Manbao couldn’t possibly handle planting ginger all by herself, so she sought help from Daya and Erya.

The sisters had no idea that ginger was more expensive than meat. Hearing their little aunt say she was going to plant new vegetables in the garden, they took her there with their little hoes.

Manbao kept muttering, "Rich soil, rich soil..."

Daya pointed to a spot and said, "Plant it here, the soil is thick, certainly fertile."

Manbao then took out the ginger chunks and instructed them, holding up her little finger, "Cut it here, cut it there, and when they sprout, you can plant lots of pieces."

Daya asked, "Can it grow in such cold weather?"

Manbao scratched her face and said, "Who knows, let’s just try."

Keke was somewhat helpless and suggested, "You can layer straw on top to keep it warm."

Manbao was surprised, "Straw can keep it warm?"

"Of course, some people even use straw for bedding to keep warm."

Manbao pondered, "So leaves can also keep warm? Grass can too, reeds as well... Ah, we have so many things we can use."

Manbao, Daya, and Erya together dug holes, planted the ginger chunks, watered them a little, and then all ran back home to grab a handful of straw to densely cover the ground to keep them warm.

In order to tuck in their straw "blanket" tightly, Manbao stomped hard on it a couple of times.

Seeing this, Daya and Erya thought it was a special planting feature for ginger and stomped on it too.

Keke, witnessing the whole process: ... Well, it’s too late now, they won’t sprout yet. Might as well remind the host to loosen the soil when spring comes.

Manbao finished planting the ginger chunks, and her Second Brother and others were not yet back, while Zhou Dalang and Zhou Silang had already gone to work at the Bai Family. With nothing else to do, she grabbed her books and ran to the school to read.

As for why she had to read in school, it was simply out of habit. After all, the teacher didn’t lock up, and the classroom door was open. She could just go in and read.

But just when she arrived outside the classroom, she heard reading aloud inside. Curious, Manbao ran in to find Bai Shanbao sitting at his desk reading.

When he looked up and saw Manbao, he sneered, "You’re so lazy. I’ve already read three texts."

"You’re the lazy one," Manbao said. "I got up this morning and planted lots, lots of ginger chunks."

Manbao sat down and Bai Shanbao pushed a paper wrapped package toward her, "Here, the osmanthus cake you like."

Manbao swallowed, opened it, and found the deliciously fragrant and sticky osmanthus cake she loved. After taking a bite, she realized it was still warm and was delighted. She then gave him a handful of candy, "Here, there’s red and yellow. Don’t tell anyone else, okay?"

Bai Shanbao was also happy, hiding the candy in his pocket, nodding emphatically.

The two kids were friends again.

Manbao said, "I’m going back there today, what about you?"

Bai Shanbao said, "Me too! My mom prepared a lunch box for me with lots of tasty things inside. I’m just afraid of the cold, but I told her we have a fire, so I’m not afraid."

Manbao nodded, "Today my Second Brother and they will also be cooking. If your food gets cold, I’ll have Second Brother heat it up for you."

Bai Shanbao expressed his gratitude.

The Bai Family still sent Daji along with a donkey cart to follow them, but Zhou Erlang still borrowed a flatbed cart. The children rode in the donkey cart, but they couldn’t put all their things on it, after all, it was their own business, right?

Bai Erlang didn’t want to go, but his father forced him up onto the donkey cart, crying, which brought unison scorn from Bai Shanbao and Manbao.

So big and still crying. Shameless.

Mrs. Bai could not understand this, feeling very sorry for her son. She couldn’t help but talk to her mother-in-law, hoping to plead for her son.

But as soon as Old Lady Bai began to speak, Old Master Bai said, "Mother, I’m doing this for the child’s own good. Rather than staying home and causing trouble, it’s better for him to go out and gain some exposure."

"What exposure is there to see a bunch of laborers working?" Old Lady Bai said. "Didn’t you hear what Erlang said? The Zhou Family people are there to make money, not to accomplish anything literary. The children are so young, what literary feats are they going to achieve?"

Old Master Bai continued, "Mother, there’s a lot to learn from this, you just didn’t see their notebooks when they came back. Otherwise, Aunt would feel even sorrier for her child. Why then does she let Shanbao go?"

Old Lady Bai then fell silent.

Old Master Bai said, "It’s a pity this boy doesn’t listen. Two notebooks of notes, and except for a few sporadic pages with his handwriting, the rest are all recorded by Shanbao. It shows how lazy he is."

Old Lady Bai felt even less confident about speaking up now, fearing that pleading in vain might only make her son angrier at her grandson.

Zhou Erlang and the others quickly arrived on the main path. Today the laborers were to dig for water channels, which was even more difficult than road construction.

Zhou Erlang glanced at Zhou Sanlang and, with Zhou Wulang’s introduction, bowed to greet the two officials.

No need for much talking today, as the workload would be lighter.

Manbao happily gathered firewood from all around. She dragged the sticks together and then called Sixth Brother to take them.

Zhou Wulang, having done this once before, knew how to work efficiently. While Second Brother was building the stove, he immediately began fetching water with a bucket.

That’s right, yesterday they only brought one wooden bucket, but today they brought a pair.

After fetching water, he put the chopped bones into the pot and started the fire.

The other tasks could wait, but the bone broth needed to simmer for a while to be delicious.

Manbao and Bai Shanbao dragged a large tree branch over noisily, then ran up to join the fun, "Second Brother, what dishes are you going to make?"

"Pork stewed with cabbage, pork stewed with radishes, five cents a ladle."

Whether anyone would buy it was uncertain, but it didn’t matter if they didn’t. He wasn’t preparing a lot, planning to leave some for Third and taking the rest back home for the family to eat.