The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 793 - 781: Deceiving the Ghost

Chapter 793: Chapter 781: Deceiving the Ghost

Everyone had their fill and rested for a while, and then County Magistrate Yang gave a few instructions to the yamen runners before he went out with Manbao and the others.

By this time, the busiest period had passed, and the crowd on the streets had quieted down considerably. People were leisurely strolling, and if anyone felt tired or hungry, they simply found a nearby shop or stall to sit down and have a bite to eat.

Thus, County Magistrate Yang could walk about with his hands behind his back without worry.

Once they had descended from the building, Daji went behind the restaurant to bring over the chicken cage that was left hanging on the cart.

Upon seeing the large rooster in his hands, County Magistrate Yang couldn’t contain his surprise, "Is this your merchandise?"

The three of them nodded together.

County Magistrate Yang stroked his chin, "You couldn’t possibly be selling it to a restaurant for cooking, could you?"

"If it doesn’t get sold, then it will ultimately end up as a dish," Manbao replied.

The rooster in the cage crowed a few times, who knew if it understood what was said.

Curiously, County Magistrate Yang followed them as they walked down the main street and then turned into a smaller street. It was likewise illuminated by lanterns, but unlike the outside, it was as bright as day and bustling with noise. The moment they entered, a barrage of loud voices jostled towards their ears.

Manbao, Bai Shan, and Bai Erlang were obviously startled, and upon seeing their expressions, County Magistrate Yang couldn’t help but laugh.

The air carried a strange smell, and Manbao waved it away with her hand and remarked, "It stinks."

County Magistrate Yang squinted into the distance and finally matched this street with the information in his mind, "So this is the street where the gambling dens are located?"

Manbao nodded and asked, "Lord Yang, have you been here before?"

"I have," County Magistrate Yang said: "I’ve come to deal with cases and to look around, but this is my first time at night."

He turned to the three of them, "Have you also been here before?"

"We’ve been here a few times, but also during the day," Manbao said.

County Magistrate Yang asked curiously, "What brought you here?"

Manbao pointed to the chicken cage in Daji’s hand, "To sell chickens."

County Magistrate Yang looked down at the large rooster in the cage and followed them in silence.

They hadn’t gone far before they came upon people fighting cocks. It was clearly time for the roosters to sleep, and yet they were being awakened to stretch their necks and cackle as they fought.

County Magistrate Yang didn’t like such an atmosphere and frowned.

Manbao watched with keen interest for a while before approaching a seller that seemed relatively trustworthy to have a look at her large rooster.

Since it was meant for fighting, the buyer inspected it carefully before declaring, "Alright, three taels of silver. Leave it if you are willing."

After a brief discussion among themselves, the three agreed. Money exchanged hands along with the chicken, and after taking the money, Manbao looked around, "Shall we look around more?"

Bai Shan suggested, "Let’s see what other people’s roosters are like."

County Magistrate Yang accompanied them as they observed, and once they had their fill of looking, he followed them out, "You were looking so carefully, are you planning to gamble on fighting cocks too?"

Manbao hastily shook her head, "We would never gamble. Those who gamble often don’t end up well."

"Then what is this for?"

"We plan to raise more large roosters, and the best fighters will be sold for cockfighting. Fighting cocks are worth more than ten times a regular chicken."

Bai Shan also nodded in agreement, "It’s very profitable."

County Magistrate Yang was taken aback by their plan, and it took him a while to respond, "Aren’t the roosters used for fighting hard to raise? I’ve heard they require delicate care from a young age, and they eat better than humans, with more expensive food too."

However, Manbao retorted, "That’s not true. To raise good roosters they do need to eat well, but it’s not as good as human food. Our Second Sister-in-law is the best at raising chickens, producing roosters with glossy feathers and high, red combs. Our Little Manor follows her methods, and while not as good as hers, they are still decent. With a little more careful breeding, I estimate that a year could yield about thirty fighting cocks."

Bai Shan said, "At three taels per cock, that’s ninety taels for thirty. Each of us could get a share of thirty taels."

"The food they eat comes from the produce of our own manor, so it barely costs any money," Bai Erlang added.

County Magistrate Yang looked at them in confusion, "You all need money?"

The three of them nodded together.

Bai Shan explained, "There’s more and more to learn at the academy, and everyone likes to buy expensive, high-quality items. After I turn fifteen, I’ll have to switch to a better zither when I go to the academy, though I can still rent a horse from the academy."

Bai Erlang added, "The prices at the prefectural school are incredibly high, and it costs a lot to treat guests to meals outside. I can’t always eat at others’ expense; I have to return the favor and treat them too."

Manbao shared, "Besides books, I also need to buy some medicinal herbs, and similarly, entertain guests. If my teacher asks me to learn music, I’ll need to buy a zither too."

County Magistrate Yang asked, "Doesn’t your family give you money?"

Bai Shan replied, "They used to, but after the winter solstice, my grandmother said that since Manbao has been studying outside without spending family money, and her father even collects her money, she wouldn’t give me any either. She told me to use my own first and ask the family if it’s not enough—and asking doesn’t come for free."

Bai Erlang felt even more wronged, "When my father heard Bai Shan wasn’t taking family money anymore, he also cut off my allowance, hmph, and he said since my older brother had no land, the family had already given me some land for my private use, and that I shouldn’t ask the family for money anymore."

So Bai Shan and Bai Erlang looked towards Manbao.

Manbao lowered her head guiltily and muttered softly, "It was just something Fourth Brother Zhou said—who knew who would spread it? The fact that my father collects my money is not something my family would ever tell outsiders."

This was an unwritten rule of the Zhou Family.

What money the family had was their own business—something to be shared among family members but not disclosed to outsiders.

With so many people in the Zhou family, it was impossible to trace the source of the leak, but their need for money and desire to earn more was genuine.

Even though County Magistrate Yang was initially not very supportive of their business, he couldn’t find the words to oppose them. The best he could do was pat the shoulders of the three as a form of consolation.

Still, he cautioned them, "When you deal with such people, you must be careful not to pick up their bad habits."

"Don’t worry, we will definitely not gamble," they assured.

County Magistrate Yang smiled and said, "Many people say that before they start gambling."

Bai Shan affirmed, "We won’t. If we ever feel tempted, all we have to do is think of Fourth Brother Zhou."

Manbao nodded in agreement.

County Magistrate Yang became curious, "What, has Zhou Silang gambled before?"

With solemnity, Manbao said, "He has gambled, and he almost had to sell me to pay off the debt."

County Magistrate Yang’s eyes widened in surprise.

Bai Erlang burst into laughter, "You’re fooling ghosts, your family is rich, how could they sell you? Our housekeeper said you still have a silver longevity lock. It’s just that your parents were reluctant to part with it, and they borrowed money in the end. They couldn’t bear to let go of your longevity lock, let alone sell you."

County Magistrate Yang was relieved. That sounded more like it—the Zhou family didn’t seem to be that sort of household. But he teased, "Erlang, I’m not a ghost."

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