The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 375 - 365: Senior Brother or Senior Sister

Chapter 375: Chapter 365: Senior Brother or Senior Sister

Old Master Bai just glanced at his silly son and asked, "Erlang, why aren’t you going?"

Bai Erlang said righteously, "I don’t understand those melons they’re talking about. I’m not going, call me when it’s time to plant fruit trees."

Old Master Bai: ...

Mr. Zhuang burst into laughter and said to Old Master Bai, "It’s not a bad thing that he’s so simple-minded, Old Master Bai needn’t be too harsh on him."

In front of the teacher, Old Master Bai just smiled and gave his son a temporary reprieve.

The servants brought up the bowls and chopsticks and served the two children rice. Old Master Bai first gave Manbao a piece of meat with his chopsticks and then asked Mr. Zhuang, "Do you plan to continue teaching at the school or switch to our residence?"

After thinking for a moment, Mr. Zhuang said, "I’d rather stay at the school."

If children come here to play and see them having class, they might want to listen in.

Old Master Bai said, "I’m just worried the school is too spacious and you might catch a cold teaching inside."

Mr. Zhuang laughed it off, "The small courtyard I live in is quite spacious as well. If I don’t want to teach in the school, I can take them to the small courtyard instead."

There’s a big difference between teaching three students and thirty. It doesn’t really matter where the classes are held.

That was when Old Master Bai stopped insisting.

Mr. Zhuang only drank one cup of wine, and after he had enough to eat, he excused himself and left, taking Manbao with him.

After crossing the bridge, the master and disciple strolled leisurely along the riverbank. Manbao asked with concern, "Teacher, can you make enough money with only three students?"

Mr. Zhuang asked with amusement, "What if I can’t?"

"I have money," Manbao said earnestly. "I can pay you a lot of tuition."

Mr. Zhuang, touched by the fear in her voice, patted her back gently and soothed, "Don’t worry, I won’t leave."

He said, "You and Shanbao are the two smartest children I’ve ever taught. Even if not for the money, I would continue to teach here."

Before Manbao could speak, Mr. Zhuang shook his head at her and smiled, "You don’t need to worry. Old Madam Bai sought me out recently and said she wants to employ me as Shanbao’s teacher. The tuition she offers me each month is even higher than what I was earning from the school before."

So Manbao calmed down.

"Therefore, you can rest assured that I won’t go hungry. However," Mr. Zhuang paused before continuing, "your sister-in-law probably can’t cook at the school anymore."

Manbao was quite happy though, "No problem, she can find other work."

Mr. Zhuang nodded, "When you come back to school after the new year, have your family send your rice and flour to Shanbao’s home, and then send fifty copper coins every month. Is that alright?"

Manbao nodded, indicating no problem.

Mr. Zhuang then continued, "Manbao, I’ve decided to take Bai Shan as my disciple. From now on, you will not only be classmates, but also fellow disciples, brother and sister."

Manbao’s eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "No way! It’s senior sister and junior brother!"

Mr. Zhuang: ...

Manbao stood in front of Mr. Zhuang, arguing her point, "Teacher, I became a disciple first, and I entered the school one day before him, so I am the elder one."

Knowing Bai Shanbao as he did, Mr. Zhuang thought that would be a little difficult because, "He’s older than you."

"Don’t the books all say that seniority is determined by the order of discipleship, not by age?"

Mr. Zhuang looked at her and said, "We study books, not martial arts."

Manbao shrank her neck and asked quietly, "You know about that, teacher?"

"The books you haven’t returned are still with me; do you think I wouldn’t know?"

Manbao felt a bit guilty for a moment, then righteously said, "I think the principle is the same, so I am the senior sister."

Mr. Zhuang waved his hand and said, "This is something you two should discuss among yourselves. The Bai family will pick a good day for the discipleship ceremony. Until then, you can negotiate on your own."

Manbao’s mouth dropped open, she looked down at her height, feeling that her chances were not very good if she fought Bai Shanbao right now, but seeking outside help for such a matter didn’t seem right either.

Ms. Liu was also talking to Bai Shanbao about the matter of discipleship.

"Mr. Zhuang is talented, and you’ve always been a naughty child. Out of all the teachers, only Mr. Zhuang’s classes can hold your attention, that’s why your mother and I have decided after discussion to hire Mr. Zhuang to teach you at home," said Ms.Liu.

Ms.Liu said, "However, it was your uncle who invited Mr. Zhuang. Even though your elder cousin has gone off to the Prefectural School, Erlang is still here, so Mr. Zhuang will be teaching both of you."

"What about Manbao?"

Ms.Liu smiled, "She is Mr. Zhuang’s disciple, so naturally she will study with Mr. Zhuang."

As she spoke, Ms. Liu paused and then continued, "Mr. Zhuang is knowledgeable, so I spoke with him about wanting you to become his disciple to formalize the relationship. I’ve already sent Nanny Liu to inquire about an auspicious day. Once we’ve determined a good day, we will bring the offerings and go to Mr. Zhuang’s for the discipleship ceremony."

Bai Shanbao’s eyes lit up, "Teacher agreed?"

Ms. Liu nodded with a smile.

"Then am I the senior brother?"

It took Ms. Liu a while to understand her grandson’s meaning, and she couldn’t help but laugh as she said, "I’m not sure about that. Logically, you entered later, so you should be the junior brother, right?"

Bai Shanbao’s eyes widened, and he said unhappily, "But I’m older and I’m better at studying than her, so I should be the senior brother."

Ms. Liu laughed, "Tomorrow your teacher is going back to the county city. You could ask him when you see him off."

Mr. Zhuang certainly didn’t expect the two children’s concerns to be so aligned, so when he was asked, he hesitated before saying, "Manbao says she wants to be the senior sister."

Bai Shanbao said seriously, "But Teacher, I’m older than her and a little better at studying. By rights, it should be me who’s the senior brother."

Mr. Zhuang, stroking his beard, smiled, "You can discuss it with her. If she’s willing to let you have the senior brother’s position..."

Bai Shanbao felt it would be difficult, but he loved a challenge, so at the foot of Zhou SiLang’s wild mountain, the two children met on a stone.

Seeing as they stumbled upon each other, Bai Shanbao decided to have a serious talk with Manbao about the issue.

Both had strong arguments and couldn’t persuade each other, eye to eye.

Manbao clenched her fists and asked, "Are you going to fight me?"

Bai Shanbao actually wanted to, but thinking about her nasty habit of biting when she couldn’t win, he decided to reason first, and if that failed, then to fight.

"If you let me be the senior brother, I’ll take care of you from now on."

"Even if you’re the junior brother, you’d still have to listen to me."

After some thought, Bai Shanbao relented with a pained expression, "If you agree, I’ll give you my set of zodiac animals."

Manbao was tempted for a moment but then refused, "I don’t want them, being the senior sister is more important."

"I can also take you to Yizhou Prefecture to play."

"When our farm makes money after next year, I’ll be able to go too."

"What if it doesn’t make money?" Bai Shanbao said, "Do you know what’s meant by natural disasters and man-made calamities?"

Manbao: ...

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