The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 564 - 553 Sent Out

Chapter 564: Chapter 553 Sent Out

"Right, right, right, it’s getting late and you still haven’t eaten. I’m almost starving to death," Zhou Silang turned and headed into the house, dragging Manbao with him as he murmured, "When I came back and saw the courtyard door closed, and couldn’t find you anywhere, I guessed you had gone through to the neighboring place. That’s just an abandoned garden, what’s so interesting about it?"

Bai Shanbao glanced at Daji and let out a humph before following along.

Zhou Silang went into the kitchen to get the food that was kept warm, and waved at them, "Hurry up and wash your hands. Look at you, all dirty. Those hands of yours, it’s not just that you’ve been digging holes, right? Looks like it’s time to rub some mud off, eh?"

The four of them silently went to wash their hands, exchanging numerous glares in the process.

Daji let out a sigh and said, "Young master, let’s eat first. After we have eaten, we can talk."

Only then did Bai Shanbao seem satisfied and went to eat with Manbao and the others.

After the meal, the three of them helped Zhou Silang clean up the dishes. Daji glanced at the three people who were together washing dishes, and pulled Zhou Silang, who was wiping the table, aside and said, "I’ll be out for a while. Keep an eye on them and don’t let them go outside."

Zhou Silang was surprised. "You’re going out? Are you buying something? Tell me what you need, and I’ll buy it for you."

In his mind, Daji had never left Bai Shan’s side. As long as Bai Shan didn’t go out, Daji would definitely not leave either.

But now, Daji lowered his voice and said, "It’s not for buying things. I need to take care of something. I’ll be back within half an hour. Just make sure they don’t leave the house."

Zhou Silang nodded, still confused, "Okay, I got it."

Daji turned and left.

When Bai Shanbao and the others had finished washing the dishes and wanted to find Daji for a good talk, they discovered that Daji was gone.

Zhou Silang said to Bai Shanbao and Manbao, who were searching everywhere, "Daji has gone out. What do you need him for?"

Manbao and Bai Shanbao both widened their eyes in disbelief, "Gone out? How could he just leave?"

"Why can’t he leave?" Zhou Silang asked, baffled. "Although he’s a servant, he can still go out, right? You’re not going anywhere, and what kind of danger could there be inside the house?"

Zhou Silang pointed at them and insisted, "You, you, and you, hurry up and go inside to take a nap. Later, you still have to read and write."

Manbao couldn’t help stamping her foot and exclaimed, "Silang, how could you let Daji go?"

Zhou Silang looked at them doubtfully, "What did you do next door? Why can’t you let Daji leave?"

Manbao was about to speak when Bai Shanbao pulled her aside and gently shook his head at her.

Manbao looked at Zhou Silang with a frustrated face. They hadn’t even gotten to look through that very important booklet themselves.

Bai Erlang let out a yawn. He had no interest in that ledger and turned to go back to his room for an afternoon nap.

Manbao and Bai Shanbao, however, couldn’t stop thinking about it and were somewhat upset.

The annoyed pair sat in the study planning to wait for Daji’s return.

When Daji came back, the two were dozing off in the study, their heads nodding. Zhou Silang didn’t bother with them as he was sitting in the courtyard, splitting bamboo to weave baskets and bamboo cages for use.

Although his skills were not as good as Second Brother’s and might be slightly flawed, it was still usable for home, and definitely better than spending money on buying them from outside.

Daji quietly looked into the study, saw them nodding off, and soon startled awake, lifted their heads but stubbornly continued to doze off.

He gave a helpless cough to wake them up.

When Bai Shanbao saw Daji, he instantly became alert, his face turning stern as he said, "Daji, where is that booklet?"

Manbao also looked at Daji.

"I’ve already sent it out," Daji said.

Bai Shanbao and Manbao’s eyes widened with disbelief, looking at Daji, feeling some anger and confusion.

Daji kneeled in front of them, looking at Bai Shan softly and said, "Young master, I did it to ensure your safety. That thing can cost lives; you and Miss Man absolutely must not see it."

"It’s just a booklet, isn’t it?" Bai Shanbao was a bit angry, "I’m just looking at it, I won’t tell anyone."

"That booklet was hidden in the Yan Family’s walls; obviously, they didn’t tell anyone either, but look where the Yan Family members are now?"

"How could that be the same?" Manbao protested. "They were corrupt officials; it was their greed that got them killed."

"Whether or not that’s the case, I don’t know," Daji said. "All I know is, that thing didn’t save him but could have potentially killed him. Likewise, it could also potentially kill the young master and Miss Man."

He lifted his head to look at them and continued, "Young master, Miss Man, these kinds of things can truly lead to death. I may not have read as much as you have, but I’ve experienced more. Some things are not written in books, so I’m only telling you here: you must not touch or look at such things. From now on, pretend you don’t know about it. Our visit next door was just to look at some flowers and plants, got it?"

Bai Shanbao and Manbao stared at Daji’s eyes for a long while before finally nodding their heads faintly.

Daji finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "About Tang County Magistrate’s place..."

Bai Shanbao waved his hand and said, "I will speak to him. Daji, whom did you send the booklet to?"

"Old Madam."

Bai Shanbao furrowed his brow, then stopped questioning further.

Daji took a deep look at the two of them, then rose and left.

Manbao exchanged a glance with Bai Shanbao, and after a while, Manbao finally picked up her pen and asked him, "What should we do?"

Bai Shanbao was silent for a long time, glanced at Daji standing outside the door, let out a sigh, and finally replied with his pen, "Let’s listen to him."

"Not even telling County Magistrate Tang?" Manbao asked.

Bai Shanbao nodded, considering their lack of familiarity with County Magistrate Tang. But then he picked up his pen and wrote, "We can tell our mentor."

Manbao’s eyes brightened. Yes, they could tell their mentor.

The two waited with chins propped, unable to focus on their books anymore.

Bai Erlang had already completed the assignment given by the mentor, and seeing them still propping their chins and daydreaming, could not help but say, "It’s just a booklet. If you don’t do your homework, I won’t help you when the mentor comes back and punishes you."

Manbao then snapped back to reality and looked at him in amazement, "Wow, you actually finished your homework."

Bai Erlang grumbled, "What choice do I have? You’re not paying attention to me when I talk, I can’t go out to play, and if I don’t do homework, what else could I do?"

Manbao looked at the sky outside; it didn’t look like it was getting dark yet. It seemed they would have to wait a while for the mentor to return, so she too took out her own homework and said to Bai Shanbao, "Let’s do our homework first."

Bai Shanbao sighed, "Alright then."

All three children set to work, within Daji’s view, who said nothing.

Mr. Zhuang was escorted home only after it had grown dark. He wasn’t drunk, but it was clear he had drunk quite a bit, reeking of alcohol.

The three youngsters helped him to his room, poured water for him to wash his hands and face, wanting to speak, yet feeling that now was not the right time, they closed their mouths again.

Mr. Zhuang placed the towel next to the wooden basin, looked at Manbao and Bai Shanbao, and sat on the bed, saying, "Go ahead, what is it?"