The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 384 - 373: Passing By (For reader Jin Yi Wei: Rong Rong’s reward for added updates)

Chapter 384: Chapter 373: Passing By (For reader Jin Yi Wei: Rong Rong’s reward for added updates)

Twelve people, Ms. Liu kept them all.

Those who had the courage to come looking at this time, Ms. Liu held in higher regard, so as long as their demands weren’t excessive and they were honest and willing to work, she would keep them.

As for farming, there was no need to investigate that; anyone randomly asked from within had grown crops for ten or twenty years, hadn’t they?

They all started working the fields at a tender age, and after getting married, they managed their family’s land too, so everyone was very familiar with farming and the agricultural seasons.

So by the time Manbao and the others finished their morning lessons, handed in their written work, and went to look at the fields, twelve women had joined the workers, actively spreading manure and sowing seeds.

The three oxen provided to plow the land were snatched up instantly.

Manor Head Bai somehow dragged out a plow, designated three sturdy men to pull and guide it, and that was barely enough for everyone to sow their seeds.

The plowed land wasn’t enough for them all, so of course, Manbao and the others didn’t join the commotion, instead sitting in an open grass hut to watch.

The spring breeze blew as they watched the hired workers till the land; Bai Shanbao felt very comfortable and pulled out a book to read from his book chest.

Bai Erlang had already lain down on a wooden bed to take a nap, and the servants who accompanied him took out a small quilt from a bamboo basket to cover him, then squatted by the side of the grass hut to doze off.

Manbao leaned against the bed and browsed the "system" with her eyes closed for a while before pulling her consciousness back out. Seeing Bai Shanbao reading, she too reached into her own book chest for a book to read.

When Yang Heshu arrived nearby, drenched in sweat and carrying his long robe, what he saw was one child sprawled out asleep on a plank, and two other children, each holding a book, sitting beside him—one with a leg crossed, the other swinging both legs as they read with relish.

Unable to resist stopping, Yang Heshu simply walked over. It wasn’t until he approached that he saw Daji squatting outside the grass hut and a house servant sleeping soundly against a wooden post at the entrance.

Daji stood up, watchfully looking at Yang Heshu.

Yang Heshu paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded at him before turning towards the two who were reading, "Little friends, why are you reading here?"

Manbao and Bai Shanbao looked over together and, upon seeing his scholarly attire, curiously asked, "Where are you from, sir?"

Yang Heshu stepped into the grass hut, saying with a smile, "I was planning to head back to the county city from White Horse Pass Town. I heard there was a shortcut through here that would be quicker, so I took this route. Who knew I’d lose my way and end up here by accident. May I ask the two little friends, where is this place?"

"This is Qili Village," Manbao and Bai Shanbao exchanged a glance, both looking at him with some doubt.

Yang Heshu let them size him up, curious about the book in their hands, he smiled and asked, "Why are you studying here?"

His gaze swept over their clothing. Noticing that Bai Shanbao and Bai Erlang’s clothes were finer, made of quality cotton, and that they seemed to be well-off enough to afford schooling.

Manbao’s clothes were less fine, but still of a cotton-hemp blend, indicating her family’s circumstances must also be decent—mainly, that a girl was also given the opportunity to study?

In that moment, Yang Heshu had already noticed the three book chests to one side, clearly belonging to the three children.

Although skeptical of Yang Heshu’s explanation, Manbao and Bai Shanbao were still polite and invited him to sit down.

Mainly because if one was taking a shortcut from White Horse Pass Town to the county city, how could they end up here?

Yang Heshu sat on the other side of the wooden plank, looking at the two with a smile, amiable in demeanor. Daji, who had followed them into the hut and stood not far from Bai Shanbao, remained silent.

"Our land is being cultivated, so we’re here to watch," Manbao pointed to the people working outside.

Yang Heshu was surprised, having not expected this answer, and asked, "Where are your elders?"

"They’re also working in the fields, very busy," said Manbao. "Besides, this is our own land; we can’t always ask for help from our families."

Bai Shanbao nodded in agreement. Although they didn’t ask for help from the Zhou family, whenever they had a problem and went back to ask, they would come rushing to help without asking for a wage. After many such times, Bai Shanbao also felt quite embarrassed.

After all, he was the one who said he’d provide the labor.

Yang Heshu raised an eyebrow, "This land is yours? Was it divided to you by your family?"

Bai Shanbao nodded, "Our family let us run it to see if we can reap a big harvest."

Yang Heshu was not unfamiliar with this educational method, but using land to cultivate disciples—especially sending them to supervise work in the fields—was new to him.

Yang Heshu burst into laughter, saying, "Your elders are quite broad-minded to trust you with the land. Even if it’s for gaining experience, should they not wait until you are a few years older?"

The sound of Yang Heshu’s laughter woke Bai Erlang, who sprang up from the bed still with his eyes closed, flailing his arms, "I’ll farm, I’ll farm, don’t chase me..."

Manbao and Bai Shanbao turned to look at Bai Erlang with sympathetic eyes, one patting his back and the other grasping his hand, soothing him gently, "Junior Brother, don’t be afraid, no monsters are chasing you."

The other said, "Junior Brother, don’t worry, when we go back, I’ll tell our cousin how diligent you were today."

Bai Erlang then barely opened his eyes, saw the two of them, and upon hearing their words, snapped to and grew angry, pushing their hands away, "It’s you two villains who were chasing me in my dream."

Manbao and Bai Shanbao were displeased, "I’m your Senior Sister (Senior Brother), how could I be a villain?"

Bai Erlang snorted and turned his head away, then saw Yang Heshu sitting to the side and jumped in surprise, "Who’s this? He doesn’t look like he’s here to work."

"He’s just passing through," Manbao then remembered to ask, "We still haven’t asked for your name, sir."

Yang Heshu smiled and said, "My surname is Yang, my styled name is Heshu. May I ask for the little friends’ names?"

"My name is Zhou Man!"

"My name is Bai Shan!"

Bai Erlang quickly followed up, "My name is Bai Cheng!"

Yang Heshu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled after looking at Manbao, "You’re not from the same family then?"

Manbao nodded.

"Whose land is this?"

"It’s ours now," Manbao said. "If we accidentally make a huge loss, it will be my family’s and his family’s fault," she pointed at Bai Cheng.

Yang Heshu then understood that this sleepy little fatty was the second son of Old Master Bai.

But the Zhou family?

He recalled that many in Qili Village bore the surname Zhou, with the village head’s family being the wealthiest. Willing to let a girl study and generously granting land to nurture a young woman, it seemed he was looking at a progressive household.

Yang Heshu smiled gleefully, and as he was about to speak, Manbao beat him to the punch, "Mr. Yang, what do you do?"

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang also looked at him curiously.

Yang Heshu replied with a slight smile, "I am a scholar, on a journey to gain experience."

Manbao and Bai Shanbao exchanged another glance, saying in unison, "Then, do you wish to inquire about the public sentiment from us?"

Before Yang Heshu could say anything, he was left speechless...

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