The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 594 - 583 Arrival

Chapter 594: Chapter 583 Arrival

Having enrolled, Bai Shanbao was now officially a student, and Mr. Zhuang simply left him at the academy, instructing him to familiarize himself with the classroom first, while he took Manbao and Bai Er away.

Having offloaded a disciple, Mr. Zhuang also felt quite relieved.

He didn’t return home but went straight to the bookstore. Looking at the bustling shop, he said, "I’m going to browse some books, Manbao, help Shanbao pick out the books he is missing, and later let the shopkeeper tally the bill, so he can pay on the way back."

He added, "How are you doing with the homework I assigned to you?"

Manbao’s scalp tightened, and she immediately said, "We have been writing."

Mr. Zhuang nodded, "Although I don’t require you to submit it immediately, you shouldn’t slack off. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me."

There really was something; Manbao asked, "Teacher, I have been researching Li Guang recently. Do you know of any books other than the Records of the Grand Historian and Book of Han where I can find information about him?"

Mr. Zhuang was surprised, "Why are you researching him? Didn’t I assign you to write about the ministers who were killed by the court?"

"Yes, but Second Junior Brother and I both feel that Li Guang’s death is intimately connected with the Han dynasty at that time, so we want to include him in our writing."

Mr. Zhuang thought for a moment, "Indeed, there are some literary collections and historical records that mention him, but collections and historical records are different. There are many annotations by later scholars, which can stray from the truth. They are far inferior to the actual historical records."

Mr. Zhuang listed some books for Manbao and after handing them to her, said, "You should start with these three books. By the time you have finished, it will be sufficient. By the way, do you have money to buy them?"

Manbao blinked and asked, "Do I have to buy them?"

Isn’t it okay to read them here?

Mr. Zhuang, amused by her words, chuckled, "You don’t need to buy them; do whatever is convenient for you."

He himself often browsed books in the shop without buying them.

Manbao took the two book lists and went to choose books.

Mr. Zhuang’s gaze then fell upon Bai Erlang.

Bai Erlang: ...

Mr. Zhuang smilingly handed him a paper, "You didn’t have Zhou Silang bring books this time, did you? No matter, it’s fine to buy them now, and you don’t need to get many, just these for now."

Bai Erlang: ...

Manbao picked out Bai Shanbao’s books and handed the basket over to the shop assistant before finding the books she wanted to read.

The shop assistant was already familiar with her, not because Manbao visited more often than other customers, but because she was one of the few women who frequented the bookstore.

Although there were other young women who would come to buy books, most of them would leave immediately after their purchase, rarely lingering.

But Manbao came often, and each time she came with a young master about her age, they usually stayed for half a day.

Occasionally buying some books or stationery, it didn’t take many visits for the shop assistant to remember them.

He knew that the books placed in the basket were generally the ones she would purchase.

The shop assistant took the basket up front, placed a bamboo token inside it for her, and continued to attend to other customers.

Manbao found the books her teacher had recommended and chose one that seemed particularly interesting. After glancing at the price, she found a place to sit down and read.

There were quite a few scholars in the bookstore doing the same as she was, reading without buying. The shopkeeper usually wouldn’t hurry the customers away because those who came here would mostly buy something, if not this time, then the next.

Plus, no one dared to damage the books; they were generally handled with care.

Otherwise, if any damage occurred, they would have to buy the book.

No one minded Manbao as she sat down in her usual spot and delved into her book with relish.

Unfortunately, the bookstore didn’t allow on-the-spot transcription; otherwise, it would have been great if she could copy a book to take home.

Mr. Zhuang stayed in the bookstore for most of the day, not until the afternoon did he leave with his two disciples as the sunset appeared on the horizon, to settle the bill and head home.

Although they had already celebrated once, Mr. Zhuang felt that since it was his disciple’s first day of school, they should have a good meal out, so he decided that the whole family would dine out in the evening.

No sooner had they returned to the alley than they heard their home buzzing with activity.

The teacher and disciples looked at each other and quickly quickened their pace.

The courtyard gate was wide open, surrounded by quite a few people; Zhou Si was taking things out of a sack, "These are all grown by my family, please don’t be shy."

He handed out a bunch of fresh bean pods, clearly picked that same day.

Erya followed, placing some tied bean pods aside, "Fourth Uncle, I’ll take these to the other neighbors."

"Go ahead, go ahead," Zhou Si cheerfully said to the gathered neighbors, "We’ll be living here for a long time, so please take good care of us. My family has many kids, and if we ever cause any trouble, you can tell me and I’ll correct them."

"Not at all, not at all," the locals replied, "The young masters and misses of the house are all scholars, and just listening to them study in the courtyard every day is a treat, oh, look, Mr. Zhuang is back..."

Only then did Zhou Si see Mr. Zhuang standing behind the crowd and hurried over, "Teacher, you’re back, and Young Master Shanbao as well, Daji is boiling water in the kitchen, would you like me to make you tea?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded blankly, greeting the neighbors.

Erya also hurriedly came to greet Mr. Zhuang, then looked at Manbao excitedly and called out, "Cousin!"

"Erya, no, Lijun, how come you’re here too?"

"Grandpa said to come take care of you," Erya replied cheerfully.

Upon hearing this, Manbao was very pleased and, taking her hand, said, "That’s wonderful, I’ll take you to my room."

Only then did the neighbors remember to ask for Erya’s name, learning she was called Zhou Lijun and had studied with Mr. Zhuang. Their looks toward her changed in an instant, compliments flowing warmly, "Truly, a family of scholars through and through, even the young lady is sent off to school."

Zhou Lijun knew they had misunderstood, but she didn’t say anything, just smilingly laughed with them.

After seeing off this group of neighbors, Zhou Lijun stood at the door watching them enter their homes and noted the ones who hadn’t come over yet. She then turned and filled a basket with the remaining bean pods to deliver them.

Before coming, her grandmother had expressly instructed that they would be living in Yizhou City for a long time. With elderly and young to look after and no mistress of the house, they could be at risk of being taken advantage of, so it was important to foster good relations with the neighbors. She said a little disadvantage now and then was bearable as long as they avoided major issues.

That’s why they brought plenty of vegetables from home; these items weren’t expensive, and giving them away was both warm-hearted and not painful on the wallet, just perfect.

Zhou Lijun, aware that her cousin’s two young fellow students were unsuited for such tasks, took up the basket and went from door to door along the alley, as far as the houses mentioned by Fourth Uncle outside the alley and handed out pods.

Then she knocked on the door across the way.

Bai Erlang, helping with the move, said, "Stop knocking; there’s nobody there."

Zhou Lijun then brought the remaining bean pods back home and asked, "Is the house across the street for rent too?"

"I’m not sure about that," Bai Erlang said, looking at the bean pods in her basket. "What do you plan to do with those?"

"We’ll eat them ourselves," Zhou Lijun replied cheerfully, "We brought a lot of vegetables from home, so we won’t need to go out and buy any for a while."

They had been eating just fine out all along, hadn’t they?