The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 367 - 356: Rules

Chapter 367: Chapter 356: Rules

Bai Shanbao and Manbao were regulars at the bookstore, and as soon as they entered, they led Bai Erlang to the calligraphy copybooks with practiced ease, all the while prodding him in a low voice, "Pick quickly, once you’re done we can go out and play."

Bai Erlang thought about grabbing any copybook, but Manbao had already opened one and asked, "What kind of font do you like? Something rounder, or slimmer and taller? Surely not something more sloppy, right?"

Bai Shanbao had already chosen two from the pile of copybooks and handed them to him, "These two are not bad, choose for yourself."

Bai Erlang then flipped through the copybooks with reluctance, asking softly, "When we get home, could you help me trace from the copybooks?"

"Probably not, your dad would get angry if he found out," said Manbao, "You should do your own work, right?"

Bai Erlang pouted, "But I don’t like writing."

Manbao retorted, "I don’t like eating eggs, and Datou and Daya don’t like transplanting rice seedlings in the fields either..."

Bai Erlang, looking utterly aggrieved, finally picked a copybook. Manbao couldn’t understand what there was to be aggrieved about; she had never even had her own copybook to this size.

She had always borrowed from Bai Shanbao for tracing.

Just as Bai Erlang was hesitatingly making up his mind, Old Master Bai had already picked out several books in the bookstore and was smiling, waving at the three children, "Come and see the books I’ve chosen for you. Erlang, do you see anything else you like?"

Bai Erlang’s mouth dropped open when he saw the books in his father’s hands. He was beginning to feel some regret; the county town wasn’t all that fun after all.

Yet Bai Shanbao and Manbao had already stepped forward. After a quick glance, they lost interest.

One said, "I have this book at home, I don’t want to buy it again."

Another said, "I’ve browsed through this book, and there’s so much I don’t understand. I think I need to grow up a bit more first."

Old Master Bai looked at the two children in surprise. His words had been meant as a bluff; the books were actually for his own selection.

Old Master Bai was silent for a moment, then turned his head to look at his son.

Bai Erlang was also flipping through the books Old Master Bai had picked out, realizing he didn’t recognize a single one; he couldn’t even fully understand the titles, scratching his head in confusion.

Old Master Bai grew even more silent, noticing the two children’s eyes gleaming as they looked at the bustling streets outside. He felt he couldn’t let the children grow up so unrestrainedly; if they were so clever and eager to learn, they ought to be disciplined.

So, Old Master Bai gave the children a radiant smile, "Do you have any books you want to buy? Choose them, and I’ll buy and gift them to you."

Bai Shanbao shook his head first, "Uncle, we have many books at home. Every so often, Grandmother also buys new ones; we don’t lack books."

"There must be something you want to read that we don’t have at home, right? It’s not often we come to the county town, so let me buy you a few books. You just have to promise me that you will read them; I’ll even examine you on them afterward."

Manbao, feeling that accepting such valuable gifts was inappropriate, declined as well.

Old Master Bai was even gentler with her, encouragingly saying, "This is your uncle’s way of encouraging you. It would be such a pity for children who read as well as you to lack books, so just pick something, and your uncle will treat you."

Manbao still shook her head.

A book was not cheap.

And the books that Manbao liked weren’t ordinary books.

She already owned the cheaper texts like the Thousand Character Classic and The Analects, and other common books that were free for her to read and copy from her teacher or Bai Shanbao.

Therefore, the books Manbao wanted to buy were generally very expensive.

Mother had said, no pies fall from the sky, and if they did, you’d have to offer a chicken back to the heavens if you took the pie.

Father had said, the world is full of both good and bad people, but those who seek gain surely make up ninety percent. No one dislikes benefit, and if a person is good to you for no reason, it’s because you’re lovable; but if their kindness costs a lot, then they must have an ulterior motive.

Old Zhou had set rules for Manbao long ago, "You can accept gifts worth less than five hundred wen without worry, but if it’s more than that, you must not take it, as your parents cannot repay it."

So, Manbao carefully glanced at the thick books on the nearby shelves and firmly declined Old Master Bai’s generosity.

Inwardly, she felt a pang of regret. If only Old Master Bai had gifted her some of those beautiful toys on the street, she knew the prices, and they weren’t expensive at all.

Seeing he couldn’t give away a single book, Old Master Bai felt slightly disappointed, then turned to look at his son.

Bai Shanbao and Manbao could refuse, but his son surely couldn’t, could he?

Therefore, Old Master Bai gave his son a smile and generously said, "Erlang, see if there’s any other book you like, bring it here, and I’ll buy it for you."

Bai Erlang felt like crying, shaking his head, "No more, Dad, I think there are more books at home, I’m fine with big brother’s used books."

"No, I treat both my sons equally. Whatever your big brother has, you will have too," replied Old Master Bai.

Bai Erlang weakly protested, "No, I think using big brother’s old books is just fine."

Bai Shanbao and Manbao seemed to understand his pain, looking at him with sympathy.

In the end, Bai Erlang couldn’t resist Old Master Bai’s urging and chose several books he did not particularly like.

When they left the bookstore, not only did Bai Erlang feel a sense of having survived a disaster, but even Bai Shanbao and Manbao breathed a sigh of relief.

The bookstore’s proprietor was grinning so hard his eyes were nearly closed, diligently helping to load the books, ink, paper, and inkstones Old Master Bai had purchased onto the carriage, then stood at the doorway, waving merrily goodbye to Manbao and the others.

Manbao and her companions didn’t get on the carriage, but instead walked along the street, taking in the sights.

With the long days of winter, people were idle, and economic activity on the streets increased. Even though a fee was required to enter the town, people still liked to stroll about the city.

It was mostly unmarried young men and women who had the potential for marriage, as well as families well-off enough not to mind the few coins needed for the entrance fee to bring their households for a visit.

Consequently, most of the vendors sold food, various ornaments, and toys.

Many of the toys had been played with by Bai Erlang and Bai Shanbao; some even remained at home. Yet, seeing them again on the street, they still couldn’t resist the urge to buy.

The pair felt this way, let alone Manbao.

Her toys were always made by her family members; the Zhou Family never bought toys for the children, thinking it better to spend that money on food instead.

After all, food could be eaten, while toys would lose their appeal after being played with for a while; what a waste.

So Manbao gazed longingly at the pinwheel spinning in the wind, at the little wooden horses, at the spinning tops...

Old Master Bai, while normally penny-pinching, was quite generous when it came to these small toys for kids, mainly because they were inexpensive.

The cheap ones were two or three wen, and the expensive ones might cost around ten wen, so he generously told the three children to pick whatever they liked, promising to pay for it!

Manbao inquired about the prices, felt they were within the limits her father had given, and happily chose the toys she liked.

Bai Shanbao was even less reserved.

After walking less than two hundred meters, all three children held numerous items in their arms, feeling overjoyed, convinced now that coming to the county town had been the right decision.

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