The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 569 - 558: Hosting a Banquet (Birthday special for the reader "Jinyiwei: Rongrong")

Chapter 569: Chapter 558: Hosting a Banquet (Birthday special for the reader "Jinyiwei: Rongrong")

Zhou Silang went next door to borrow a hoe, and proceeded to clear the space next to the storeroom that bordered the Yan Family’s wall, where he planted all sorts of flowers and plants indiscriminately.

Only then did he go to look for Manbao’s honeysuckle, and was horrified to discover that only one plant was left.

Zhou Silang couldn’t help but exclaim, "Weren’t there two plants?"

Manbao guiltily turned and ran, "I killed one."

Zhou Silang was more than a little angry; he cherished the remaining plant even more, so he took it back to his room, deciding to buy a clay pot today.

After Manbao took a bath and changed her clothes,she slipped into the study where Mr. Zhuang and Mr. Lan were reviewing Bai Shanbao’s completed essay. Catching sight of Manbao entering, they gestured for her to come, asking, "Where did you run off to just now?"

Manbao approached, saying, "Teacher, I’ve copied all my books, and I was a bit tired, so I went out for a walk."

Mr. Zhuang glanced at her clothes with a puzzled frown, "Did you change your clothes?"

Manbao chuckled, "I accidentally dirtied them."

Mr. Zhuang didn’t think much of it, handing over the questions Lan Cheng had posed to her, saying, "You should also write a couple of essays."

Manbao was stunned, "Teacher, I’m not taking the academy exams."

"You’re also reading the books on the syllabus, aren’t you? Try to do it, don’t be lazy."

Manbao took them, muttering, "But I haven’t been reading these past few days..."

Bai Shanbao smiled gleefully, whispering, "I can lend you the books to read again."

Manbao glanced at the topics, huffed, and turned to leave.

The teacher was obviously going to mark the papers on the spot. Where would she find the time to read leisurely?

Sitting back down at her own spot, Manbao reviewed the questions with distress. The first one was fine; she remembered the source and its meaning, but the second one seemed familiar, yet she had no recollection of which book it came from, let alone the context...

With a troubled heart, Manbao spread out a blank piece of paper, deciding to tackle the first question first.

By the time Manbao finally finished answering both questions, it was nearly dark.

Because it was raining, night fell particularly fast. Mr. Zhuang collected her answers, nodded, and said, "Go and buy dinner, while Mr. Lan and I mark your work. After we’ve eaten, I’ll teach you more lessons."

Clearly, there were extra lessons scheduled for tonight.

Manbao and Bai Shanbao nodded in acknowledgment with their heads down, even Bai Erlang felt a bit down.

Upon leaving the study, Bai Erlang sighed, "Books from morning till night, I feel like my brain is turning to mush. I want to go home."

"Be content," Bai Shanbao moped, "How many passages do you study in a day, how much homework? Look at Manbao, then look at me, hmph!"

Manbao nodded, "That’s right, I read more books than you, to say nothing of Shanbao."

Then, turning to Bai Shanbao with sympathy, "You really have it tough."

Bai Shanbao said, "I just wish the academy exams would come sooner, preferably tomorrow."

Pass or fail, he was prepared to accept it all.

Previously at home, he thought that he spent quite a lot of time on his studies. Beyond attending school, in his free time, he not only had to do homework but also read extra books, managing to play for only an hour or so each day.

But now, he felt that life at home had been blissful. To think, he could play for an hour or so every day.

The three of them dejectedly went into the yard where Zhou Silang lifted his head from a corner of the yard, only then realizing that it was late, "Oh no, I forgot to cook, and I forgot to prepare the vegetables too."

Bai Shanbao was instantly panicked, "No way, it’s bad enough we didn’t get to play, and now we have to eat the dishes cooked by Silang?"

Zhou Silang: "... What’s wrong with my cooking? My culinary skills are the best among the six of us. If you can do better, be my guest!"

Zhou Silang clapped his hands and stood up, saying, "We picked some particularly tender greens today, so I bought some meat on my way to buy the clay pots. We’ll make our own dinner."

Otherwise, it would be such a waste of the greens we picked.

It was then that Bai Shanbao and Bai Erlang noticed the neatly formed ridges at Zhou Silang’s feet and curiously asked, "Silang, is this supposed to be vegetables?"

"Vegetables my foot, have you ever seen vegetables that look like this?" Zhou Silang said, "These are all Manbao’s flowers and plants; when you play in the yard, be careful not to step on them."

Bai Shanbao immediately thought of something, glancing sideways at Manbao with a long "oh—" sound, and said with a half-smile, "So that’s how it is. No wonder we have fresh, free greens to eat tonight."

Bai Erlang was confused, "How is which?"

Bai Shanbao gestured for him to look at the Yan Family next door, and in a flash Bai Erlang understood, looking at Manbao he too emitted a long "oh—" sound.

Together they declared, "You’re treating us to dinner!"

"Fine, I’ll treat," Manbao wasn’t particularly looking forward to Silang’s cooking anyway, so she turned to ask Zhou Silang, "Silang, what do you want to eat?"

Zhou Silang, having meant to refuse, immediately became contemplative, then said, "I want the stewed chicken from Old Zhao’s shop at the alley entrance, that flavor..."

Manbao said, "I’ll go buy it."

"Then go quickly, it’s getting dark, and I’m afraid they’ll sell out. Remember to ask them to give us a little extra soup; I’ll use it to quickly blanch some greens, which would also taste very good," he added.

Manbao supplemented, "And slice the meat and cook it together, that would taste very good too."

Bai Shanbao was dubious, "Will it really taste good with all that stuff in it?"

"It should, my eldest sister-in-law’s cooking is especially delicious, during the New Year’s she would sometimes use a whole chicken to make broth and add all kinds of ingredients."

Bai Shanbao said, "But this is Silang cooking."

On hearing this, Manbao also began to have doubts and turned to look at her brother.

Zhou Silang: "... Just get the ingredients first, and let’s see later. I’ll separate half of it to blanch; if it doesn’t taste good, Daji and I will eat the less tasty portion."

Daji: ...

Manbao and the others agreed, and with a basket in hand they set off happily to the main street.

Once out of the alley, they found the main street, which was not very lively. First, it was a busy time for farming, and second, it had been raining today.

So there weren’t many people on the street, but there were still quite a few out looking for something to eat.

Old Zhao’s shop was not far from the alley entrance. Their stewed chicken was famously delicious, just as renowned as their potstickers.

Eaten together with the potstickers soaked in the soup, it was exceptionally tasty.

Thinking of how many plants she input into the system today made Manbao especially happy, and when she was happy, she was especially generous. So with a wave of her hand, she bought an entire pot of chicken, a basket of potstickers, and three dishes of vegetables.

Old Zhao packed the items for her separately into the basket, and since they didn’t have enough baskets, he brought two more from his own shop, then cautioned, "Be careful on the way; don’t spill it. After you’ve eaten, leave it in the yard. We’ll come to pick it up early tomorrow morning."

Since moving in, Manbao and the others ordered out most of the time, and they frequented the shops at the entrance of the alley the most.

Thus, the food stalls for half the street recognized them and were more than willing to offer delivery services and dish collection.

Happy with their purchases, Manbao and the two others cheerfully agreed, paid, and together carried their baskets home.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.