The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 520 - 509: Bustling

Chapter 520: Chapter 509: Bustling

Junior Ms. Qian’s face flushed red as she muttered, "What are you talking about? Father is not that kind of person."

She paused before adding, "It’s just that I’ve been thinking, the number of people in the family is increasing, and right now everyone is united. But as the children grow up, naturally, people start having more ideas. Even though everyone knows that the shop was bought with Manbao’s money and should be her dowry..."

"Yet as time passes, through the years, it’s inevitable some might forget. By the time Manbao is to be married, we’ll have to wait at least six, seven more years. I reckon that out of love for Manbao, our parents might wait even eight or nine years before marrying her off. By then, to bring the shop owned by father as her dowry, I’m afraid some family members might feel uncomfortable."

Speaking softly, Junior Ms. Qian said, "In that case, it might be better to put the shop in Manbao’s name now. That way, when the time comes for her to take it with her, it will be completely legitimate."

Speaking of putting it in her name—this shop was not part of her original dowry, nor had their main branch bought it with personal savings. After all, once the grandparents pass away, all these things will have to be divided.

Naturally, Junior Ms. Qian had her own selfish interests. She thought it wouldn’t be worth it to disturb the harmony of the family over just one shop; and if trouble does arise, the benefits should fall to one’s own people.

And Manbao was clearly considered one of their own people.

Of course, she wouldn’t discuss this with Zhou Dalang because in his heart, his sister was his own, and his brothers and nephews were naturally his own people as well.

After all, the couple had already agreed that it was necessary to put the shop in Manbao’s name.

The next morning, Zhou Silang chattered to his father, suggesting that everyone should go to the county town to help. "We need to buy tables, chairs, and benches for the interior, and the place still needs to be cleaned. We should also see what else we need to buy and get it done before New Year, so we can open for business right after the festivities."

Old Zhou thought it over and felt it made sense, so he waved his hand and said, "Alright, except for Third’s wife and Four’s wife who will stay home with the children, anyone else who wants to go can go. Oh, Eldest, on your way, buy some more food to bring back. The New Year’s goods we’ve prepared at home might not be enough."

He added, "You’ve been eating too much these past few days."

He decided that since they had bought the shop, he should really take a good walk around the village. Surely, he would have to carry some things back and forth.

Moreover, now that their family had purchased a shop in the county town, they needed to report it to the Land Officer. When visiting him, they had to bring over some fine pastries, and it’d be best to also carry along a strip of cured meat...

Thinking about these social exchanges, Old Zhou was experiencing a bitter-sweet feeling. After instructing Zhou Dalang on what to buy, he waved his hand to let them go.

Zhou Dalang decided to take the ox cart.

Manbao didn’t ride with them but ran straight to the village entrance and went with Bai Shanbao and the others. As for the money, it was taken by Zhou Erlang first thing in the morning.

With so much silver lying in a basket, he couldn’t feel at ease; thus, it was safer under his own watch.

Manbao wasn’t concerned about this. Once she climbed onto the ox cart, she discussed with Bai Shanbao where they would go for a nice meal after she finished her errands.

Bai Shanbao said, "Weren’t we going to take the lease agreement to County Magistrate Yang for his review? Shall we go there for some delicious food?"

"Hey? Yes, yes, that sounds great," Manbao joyfully said. "I heard County Magistrate Yang is about to get married; we could go see if there’s anything we could help with."

Bai Erlang laughed heartily and asked, "Are you going to be the children who roll the wedding bed?"

Bai Shanbao then gave him a shove and retorted, "What’s wrong with rolling the wedding bed? It’s a blessing!"

Manbao said, "There’s so much to do for a wedding. You can tell just by looking that you’ve never had a celebration at home. You don’t know anything. There are many things we could help with."

Bai Erlang: "...Hmph, it won’t be a few years until my elder brother gets married; then, of course, I’ll know."

While they talked merrily, the noise from the ox cart behind them was even louder, making Zhou Dalang move a little farther away, leaving Datou to handle the cart on his own.

Zhou Liulang talked enough with them and ran ahead to ride in Bai Shanbao’s ox cart. Seeing this, Second Son and Third scampered down from their cart and slipped over.

A group of children didn’t even need the cart to stop; they’d bounce off, run over, and with another leap, they were back on the cart.

The children always had endless things to talk about, even if it was just a wildflower by the roadside which they could discuss for a long time despite its commonness...

Now even Daji was starting to feel a headache.

The noisy group headed for the county town, and right as they reached the city gates, they found a shed outside where they stopped and paid two wen to have someone watch over the oxen and the cart.

The shed had been built after this year’s autumn harvest; rumor had it that a bunch of idle troublemakers in the city erected it after County Magistrate Yang abolished the city entry fee. Whenever there was an agricultural lull or a festival, the number of people entering the city would increase significantly.

Some of the livestock pulled carts right into the city, leading to a pervasive smell of cow dung on the streets. Consequently, County Magistrate Yang established a regulation that said, "Any livestock brought into the city, including but not limited to oxen, horses, donkeys, and mules, must have their droppings cleaned up by the owner if they defecate in the street. If the owner is unable to clean up, then they must pay the patrolling bailiffs two wen for street cleaning fees, and this fee is collected on each occurrence."

Subsequently, a shed was built outside the city, not too far from the city gate, but also not too near, situated on both sides of the road and quite spacious. Behind it lay an expanse of open land for use.

No matter if it was an ox cart, mule cart, or donkey cart, the fee was two wen per cart—well, except for horse carts, which reportedly were charged based on the luxury level of the cart. At any rate, last time they had come with a horse cart, they were charged five wen.

Leaving the oxen and cart behind and taking their bamboo proof, the group hustled into the city.

Upon looking up from his daze on the shop’s threshold, Shi Xiaoen’s eyes widened in astonishment when he saw Manbao leading a loud crowd towards him.

The sale of a shop is what it was, but did it merit such a commotion?

Knowing that Zhou Dalang and his group were there to tidy up the shop, Shi Xiaoen breathed a sigh of relief. He brought out the prepared documents and property deed, saying, "I’ve asked the Land Officer to come as a witness; he should arrive soon."

Manbao looked over the documents and, confirming there were no issues with the lease agreement, was about to fill in her sister-in-law’s name. Junior Ms. Qian quickly interjected, "Manbao, let your Second Brother handle this. Aren’t you and the young master going to see County Magistrate Yang? You’ll need to buy some things, right?"

Junior Ms. Qian smiled and added, "You go ahead and shop, and we’ll handle the shop ourselves."

Zhou Erlang then inquired, smiling, "Eldest Master Shi, Manbao, is the agreed amount one hundred and twenty taels for the lease?"

Shi Xiaoen glanced at them and slowly nodded, "Yes."

Zhou Erlang took the pen from Manbao’s hand and said with a smile, "Off you go, don’t stray too far."

Manbao whispered, "Second Brother, we also wanted to ask County Magistrate Yang to review the documents."