The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1106 - 185: Receive the Lucky Bag

Chapter 1106: Chapter 185: Receive the Lucky Bag

Manbao and Bai Shan were still wondering how to talk to Assistant Minister Yu when they entered the city gate and unexpectedly saw County Duke Yu not long after.

Today is Double Ninth, many wealthy families are distributing porridge or blessing bags within the city, naturally, only the elderly can claim them.

Mr. Jiang and the others were originally sitting in the horse carriage, they opened the window to watch the lively scene outside, and not knowing what exactly they saw, he pointed to a spot and said: "Let’s go, we should also get a blessing bag."

Mr. Chen mocked him, "How old are you? Be careful not to be driven out."

"Look at my graying beard, who dares to drive me away?"

After saying that, he pulled Mr. Zhuang to go together, "Let’s go, we two are the oldest, if we don’t go, it will be even more embarrassing for the others."

Mr. Zhuang smiled and then got up to go down from the carriage with him.

Seeing that they were really going, Mr. Chen was stunned for a moment and hurriedly chased after them.

Manbao and the others were sitting in the carriage behind, seeing the front carriage stopping, they poked their heads out to see.

Bai Shan saw that they were heading towards a group of old people and said: "It seems like they are joining the fun, they are collecting blessing bags, right?"

The gentlemen all got off the carriage, naturally, they had to get off as well.

Minister Liu curiously asked: "There are so many households distributing blessing bags along this road, why do they not want others but just this one?"

Manbao pointed to an emblem on a flag and asked, "Whose emblem is that?"

Yin Huo looked at it for a moment and replied: "It’s from the Eastern Palace."

Bai Shan said: "Since it’s from the Eastern Palace, let’s go over and join in the fun and see if we can also get one."

Minister Liu was dumbfounded, "Isn’t this supposed to be for the elderly?"

Bai Shan said: "I have elderly at home too."

Saying that, he went ahead to line up first and a group of youth casually followed him in line.

The servant distributing the blessing bags glanced at Mr. Jiang and Mr. Zhuang’s beards and generously gave each of them a blessing bag. When it was Mr. Chen and Mr. Lu’s turn, he hesitated and did not give them one, instead he asked: "May I know how old each of the gentlemen are?"

Mr. Chen’s face turned red, Mr. Lu, who was more thick-skinned, pointing to Mr. Jiang and Mr. Zhuang, said: "We are together."

The servant said: "Gentlemen, these blessing bags are for the elderly, and you gentlemen seem to be in your prime. Perhaps you might come back in a few years?"

When it was Bai Shan and their turn, the servant saw their outfits from the Imperial College, smiled and bowed slightly asking, "Young masters and ladies, you are here for...?"

Bai Shan said: "I am collecting on behalf of my grandmother."

Manbao: "I am also collecting for my parents."

Yin Huo smiled slightly and said: "I am collecting for my grandmother."

The servant recognized Minister Liu and exclaimed: "Young Master Liu?"

Minister Liu reluctantly said: "I am collecting for my grandfather, his age should qualify, right?"

The servant dazedly nodded, "Minister Liu’s age is certainly qualified."

He quickly handed out a blessing bag to Minister Liu, then without hesitation also gave one to Bai Shan, Manbao, and Yin Huo each.

The group of youngsters, who initially only came to join the fun, seeing this, came forward saying, "I am also collecting for my grandmother at home..."

"I am collecting for my grandfather..."

Manbao then stared at the servant and said: "This is for my mother, what about my father’s?"

The servant, already confused, did not have time to ask whether Manbao’s parents were old enough and handed her another one.

Manbao joyfully squeezed out with Bai Shan, and when she looked up, she happened to see County Duke Yu tremblingly stepping down from a carriage with the help of a servant.

Their eyes met, and both parties were stunned for a moment.

County Duke Yu’s memory was still good; he pointed at the two children but couldn’t recall their names for a time and just said: "Ah, you are the two children from the day before yesterday."

Both nodded together.

Seeing them holding the blessing bags, County Duke Yu laughed and asked, "How come you are also collecting blessing bags at such a young age?"

Bai Shan performed a bow and replied: "These are for our elders at home."

County Duke Yu laughed and asked: "Did you collect from several places?"

"Just this one."

"Oh?" County Duke Yu, curious, smiled and asked: "Why only from this place?"

Manbao smiled and said: "Because this is from the Eastern Palace, other family’s blessing bags can be omitted, but the Crown Prince’s blessing bags are essential to collect."

County Duke Yu then smiled and stepped forward two steps, asking: "Why is that?"

Manbao replied: "He is the Crown Prince, born with the greatest fortune in this world. The elderly collecting his blessing bags might share some of his fortune."

Bai Shan nodded, adding: "The elderly who received his blessing bags have benefitted from his kindness, they will naturally bring some fortune to him. The Crown Prince is critical for the state, his fortune means fortune for the country."

Manbao nodded, indeed, the Crown Prince even had ailments, others’ blessing bags might not be crucial but his were definitely essential to collect.

County Duke Yu looked at them in amazement, and after a while, laughed while stroking his beard: "I haven’t been back to the capital in years, I didn’t expect the children to have grown so well. I remember you mentioned, you are fellow disciples under the same master, who is your master by the way?"

As they were talking, Mr. Zhuang, who had been waiting in the carriage, stuck his head out from the window and called them, "Manbao, are you done?"

County Duke Yu turned to follow the sound and saw Mr. Zhuang, slightly stunned, he felt this person looked vaguely familiar and couldn’t help but squint to get a better look.

Mr. Zhuang also saw County Duke Yu, startled for a moment then quickly let the curtain fall.

Seeing him puzzled, Mr. Jiang, who was opening his blessing bag, asked, "Mr. Zhuang, what happened?"

Mr. Zhuang came back to his senses, smiled and said: "Nothing."

Then he stood up, intending to get off.

"Hey, Mr. Zhuang..."

Mr. Zhuang turned and said: "Duke Yu is outside, it is not proper for me to stay seated."

"Duke Yu?" Mr. Jiang lifted the curtain to peek outside, also saw County Duke Yu.

He quickly wrapped up his blessing bag, pulling Mr. Chen they got off the carriage together.

The other Mr. Lu and Mr. Qin from different carriages also hurriedly got down when they noticed something was amiss over here.

Mr. Zhuang straightened his sleeves, strode forward, and bowed solemnly three steps in front of County Duke Yu, "Greetings to County Duke Yu."

Counting Duke Yu narrowed his eyes slightly lifting his hand, smiling: "No need for excessive formalities, please rise. You are..."

With Bai Shan and Manbao already standing on either side of Mr. Zhuang, they called out "Teacher."

County Duke Yu laughed: "Are you the teacher of these two children?"

Mr. Zhuang glanced at the two children and respectfully responded "Yes."

County Duke Yu nodded slightly, Mr. Jiang and the others also got out of the carriage, all coming up to greet County Duke Yu.

County Duke Yu recognized Mr. Jiang, he pointed to a tea house nearby and said: "Since we’ve met, why don’t we sit down for a tea, but first, let me collect a blessing bag."

He smiled at Bai Shan and Manbao: "You were right, other people’s blessing bags we can skip, but we can’t miss the Crown Prince’s, hahaha..."

After County Duke Yu went to collect the blessing bag, Mr. Zhuang patted the two children’s shoulders and asked: "Have you met County Duke Yu?"

Manbao: "We saw him at the County Governmental Office the other day, teacher, do you also know County Duke Yu?"

Mr. Zhuang then smiled and said: "Of course I know of County Duke Yu, but County Duke Yu might not recognize me."