The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 602 - 591: I Know

Chapter 602: Chapter 591: I Know

Mr. Zhuang said, "You have always been very proud. When you were in Qili Village, the people you interacted with were all genuine and pure, so in some respects, you inevitably lack experience. For this reason, starting your studies at the academy will be even harder for you than it is for others, especially since you are younger than most of the other students and more likely to draw attention."

Mr. Zhuang wasn’t foolish. Moreover, he was only responsible for three disciples now. Even though Bai Shanbao had been doing very well, his expression still showed a touch of melancholy.

Just yesterday everything was fine, and even this morning when he left the house, he was mostly excited. How could it be that after leaving home for just one day, he came back changed?

He didn’t ask Bai Shanbao what had happened at the academy; instead, he told him, "No matter what happens, as your teacher, my only hope is that you remember you are there to study."

Mr. Zhuang said, "The academy has a big exam every year. As long as your results are good enough, not only can you be in the top class, but you can also go further than your classmates who enrolled in the same year, and even get a spot to take the exam for the Imperial Academy."

Mr. Zhuang stood up and walked to the window, his back to Bai Shanbao, and spoke softly, "In the past two years, there have been very few good students at the academy. Last year, I heard that among the students who went to the capital to take the exam, only two were admitted to the Six Academies. Do you understand what that means?"

Bai Shanbao was a bit startled and asked, "Is Yizhou really that weak, with only two people passing the exam?"

"In past years, from the entire Jiannan region, there should be no fewer than twenty people who pass the exam each year, and at least ten of them would be from Yizhou Prefecture academy..." Mr. Zhuang didn’t finish his sentence, but the implication was clear.

Bai Shanbao’s eyes lit up, realizing what this meant.

The fact that the number of admits had suddenly dropped to two, regardless of what the military governor and the Prefecture thought, would definitely be distressing for the academy.

So no matter why he was being targeted, as long as his results were good enough...

Thinking of those who were against him, Bai Shanbao gave a cold laugh.

Mr. Zhuang turned back to look at him, and seeing that he had understood, he gave a slight smile and waved his hand, "Alright, it’s getting late. Go wash up. You still have clothes to wash later."

As the sunset, Zhou Lijun gathered the clothes and went with them to the river to wash them.

At that time, only they would go to the river to wash clothes. They were very comfortable, each occupying a boulder, washing the clothes while chatting.

Bai Erlang was particularly envious of Manbao, "You were out for half a day today and the master didn’t even ask you once. When can I be like you?"

Manbao: "That’s difficult; first, you need self-discipline, then your reading must be good, and finally, you have to be a wife."

Bai Erlang grunted and tossed the clothes in his hands into the water, stirred them around, then dragged them out and started to beat them.

Bai Shanbao then turned and spoke to Manbao about what Mr. Zhuang had just said to him, "I don’t know what the level of the teachers at the academy is like. How about we review the textbooks ourselves tonight?"

Manbao nodded, "That sounds good."

Zhou Lijun silently washed clothes on the side. Some of the things she understood, but others, she didn’t grasp very well.

Indeed, as the young lady said, reading more books is quite useful, at least, so that you don’t even misunderstand some conversations.

For instance, she didn’t know why Young Master Bai Shan was so excited and happy when talking about only two people from last year’s academy who passed the exams to go to the capital.

Zhou Lijun couldn’t help turning to her young aunt, "Auntie, I also want to read books."

"No problem, I brought all of my books this time; what do you want to read?"

"What do you think I should read, auntie?"

Manbao thought for a moment and then said, "How about you start with history books, from The Spring and Autumn? You can ask me if you don’t understand, or you can ask the master."

Zhou Lijun replied with a headache, "Auntie, The Spring and Autumn is so difficult."

Manbao never hoarded her books selfishly; the books in her room were available for everyone to read.

After graduating from school, Datou and the others hardly touched books anymore, occasionally reciting a few lines along with Erya and the others who were studying.

Erya had looked at the books in Manbao’s library, but there was not a single one she liked.

Compared to the catchy Thousand Character Classic, the understandable and story-filled The Analects, or the beautiful Classic of Poetry, the remaining books in Manbao’s room were difficult to read.

Even Zhou Lijun, who was rather determined, usually couldn’t sit still after reading just a few pages.

Understanding her feelings, Manbao said, "The books that I’ve read have been punctuated by me; they are very easy to read. If you want to read vernacular stories, then travelogs or novels would be more appropriate."

Manbao’s gaze inevitably swept towards Bai Shanbao and Bai Erlang. After a moment of thought, she felt that reading travelogues was quite good, and novels were enjoyable too.

So she quietly said to Zhou Lijun, "I haven’t bought any travelogues or novels, but the two of them have some. I’ll help you borrow them later."

Zhou Lijun didn’t understand why they didn’t borrow the books right then and there.

As the four of them chatted, they managed to finish washing the clothes before the sky was completely dark, and then, with a lot of clatter, carried the wooden tubs back home.

After hanging the clothes to dry, Manbao headed off to find Bai Erlang.

Bai Erlang said nervously, "I don’t have any; don’t ask me!"

Back at the riverbank, although she and Zhou Lijun had spoken quietly, they weren’t very far from the others, so Bai Erlang naturally heard them as well.

So without waiting for Manbao to speak, he refused her outright.

Manbao didn’t believe him, "You must have some. If you don’t share your books, are we still friends?"

"The books I have were brought by your fourth brother at my dad’s request. Do you think my dad would have sent me travelogues or novels?"

"You had some in the luggage you carried with you before."

Bai Erlang: "I didn’t!"

Manbao clenched her fists and looked at him.

Bai Erlang said guiltily, "Those books are not appropriate for a young lady to read."

"Nonsense, I’ve read all of your novels."

Bai Erlang: ...So that’s why the master scolded him.

"Are you going to give them to me or not? If not, I’m going to tell the master."

Bai Erlang, irritated, "You traitor, you also look at miscellanea when you go to the bookstore!"

"The master knows."

Bai Erlang: ...

Gathering his courage, Bai Erlang still got down on the floor, pulled out a box from under the bed, opened it, and it was full of clothes. He reached into the clothes, felt around, and pulled out a book, looked at it, and stuffed it back in, continued searching...

Manbao peered in curiously. Although his movements were quick, they couldn’t outpace her eyes.

"Spring Encompassing the World? I haven’t read this book. Can I have a look?"

Bai Erlang snapped the box shut with a bang, glaring with wide eyes, "Do you want it or not? If you do, step back. I can only give you one book."

Manbao took a slight step back and spread her hands, "Alright then."

As soon as he saw that she couldn’t see this side, Bai Erlang opened the box again and started searching, taking out one book, then putting it back, taking out another, then putting it back...

Manbao: ...

Not only was Manbao speechless, but Bai Shanbao, who was peeking in through the window, was also at a loss for words. Curious, he stretched his neck further to see inside, only to realize he couldn’t see anything, and before he knew it, he had climbed up onto the windowsill, craning his neck to look.

Growing bored, Manbao turned her head and suddenly saw someone at the window, which startled her into stepping back and almost crying out.