The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 794 - 782: The Longevity Lock

Chapter 794: Chapter 782: The Longevity Lock

Manbao took off the longevity lock hanging around her neck and argued with conviction, "See, this longevity lock is so small, even if I take it out, my family would be ruined. Originally, before my Fourth Brother started gambling, we were quite wealthy."

She sighed deeply, "Before that, I never had to worry about food or clothing, but after my Fourth Brother took to gambling, even I had to worry about making a living."

County Magistrate Yang couldn’t help but burst into laughter and cheerfully asked, "How old were you back then?"

Bai Shan said, "Four years old!"

He remembered it especially well because not long after that, he had gotten into a fight with her!

Many memories from childhood were blurry, but that particular one was especially vivid.

Bai Shan glanced over at Manbao.

Manbao continued, "I was almost five, so you see, even a child like me had to worry about living expenses, which shows just how poor my family was back then. So don’t go gambling like my Fourth Brother, okay?"

County Magistrate Yang finally believed they would not join in betting and nodded with a smile. His gaze swept over the longevity lock on Manbao’s neck, and he couldn’t help but exclaim, "Eh," moving closer to take a good look and smilingly asked, "Where did you get this longevity lock from?"

"My parents made it for me!"

County Magistrate Yang took another look at the longevity lock and smilingly asked, "Your parents made it? Where did they have it made?"

"Where else could it be made if not at the silver shop," Manbao repeated her father’s words, "They spent a lot of money to have it made for me. I wasn’t strong at birth and always needed medicine. It was said that wearing a longevity lock could help one live longer, so my father took some silver and had one made for me, and after I wore it, my health really did improve a lot. That’s why we don’t take off the longevity lock."

"You didn’t say that before," Bai Shan said, "You used to say that you were sickly ever since you were little, then your mother took you to pray to the Heaven Master at the Daoist temple, and the Heaven Master took a liking to you, after which your illness got better."

Bai Erlang said confusedly, "Wasn’t it cured by drinking egg water?"

Manbao: "... How would I know, it’s all what my parents said. You guys can judge for yourselves."

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang: "... Your family sure has a lot of stories."

County Magistrate Yang, however, looked thoughtfully at the longevity lock on Manbao’s neck and after a long silence said with a smile, "This longevity lock looks quite unique, could you take it off for me to have a look?"

"Aren’t all longevity locks the same?" Bai Shan frowned slightly, "I have one too. I’ll show mine to you."

County Magistrate Yang used his fan to knock him on the head, chuckling, "I want to see Manbao’s."

Manbao didn’t mind and took it off to show him. While her parents didn’t want her to take it off, fearing it might be lost, it wasn’t that someone like County Magistrate Yang would steal her longevity lock.

County Magistrate Yang took the longevity lock and went to a lantern to examine it carefully. Three little heads also curiously moved closer to look and realized it was still a longevity lock and didn’t suddenly sprout a flower.

Seeing this, County Magistrate Yang smiled, handed the longevity lock back to Manbao, and smiled, "Is it really made by your parents at the silver shop?"

When he asked this, Manbao felt hesitant. She knew that her father occasionally boasted, and when he boasted, his mouth naturally lacked truth.

She slowly nodded, not quite sure herself, "Right?"

Yang Heshu then patted her head, laughing, "Alright, the design of this longevity lock is quite unique. I was thinking, when I have kids, I’ll have one made for them too."

Manbao’s spirits lifted, and she asked, "Lord Yang, are you getting married?"

Yang Heshu nodded in distress, "Yes, my family has already arranged a marriage, and I’ll have to go back to get married soon."

Bai Shan then asked, "What about the spring planting?"

Isn’t it the duty of a county magistrate to encourage agriculture?

"It’s alright, I’ll be back just in time for the spring planting after getting married," he said.

The three of them opened their mouths in surprise, "Is it that urgent?"

Manbao hesitated, "My mother said that those who hurriedly take a wife before the spring planting are not from a good family."

Yang Heshu: "... My family does have land, but the wife doesn’t have to farm it herself, so that rule doesn’t apply to determining if my family is good or bad."

Manbao felt relieved, she had thought the Yang family was that sort of harsh household.

Seeing her reaction, Yang Heshu’s face darkened. Bai Shan added fuel to the fire, "But Lord Yang, that does seem awfully rushed. Why didn’t you take a wife before the New Year?"

Yang Heshu glanced at him without a word. That was because he didn’t want to get married at that time.

As for why he had to get married now, it was naturally because he had lost his resistance and couldn’t stand up to the pressure from his parents.

Yang Heshu sighed deeply, "I had wished to take a wife only once I had achieved success and made a name for myself."

Manbao calculated Yang Heshu’s age and said, "That would take quite a few more years, Lord Yang. Aren’t you subject to the bachelor tax by now?"

Bai Shan said, "You haven’t set a good example. No wonder Sixth Brother Zhou also didn’t want to marry after you became the county magistrate."

Bai Erlang said, "My eldest brother is also betrothed, but he doesn’t want to marry either. He says he wants to get into the Imperial Academy before considering marriage."

The three of them looked at Yang Heshu together.

Yang Heshu, seeing they could even blame such things on him, was not amused and turned around to leave, "Let’s go. I’m going back to pack up and return home. At this hour, there shouldn’t be any more troublemakers."

No sooner had he said that when a yamen runner came running to report, "My lord, there is a fight in the south of the city involving as many as eighteen people. The county captain has already taken people there."

Yang Heshu immediately strode off, instructing, "Are there lanterns? Pay attention to fire prevention..."

Upon reflection, Manbao and the others decided that fighting, especially gang fights, was too dangerous and since they were still young, they wouldn’t join in the excitement. So they stood back and waved goodbye to Yang Heshu, "Lord Yang, we’re heading back first. Until next time, farewell!"

Yang Heshu, without turning his head, waved back and left.

Manbao exchanged glances with Bai Shan and Bai Erlang, took out the three ounces of silver, and the three of them chuckled and rushed off to shop.

Daji followed behind, stealing a glance at Manbao’s neck before quietly catching up.

The prices in the county town were not high and good items were scarce, so even though they spent freely, they didn’t use up even one ounce of the three ounces of silver. They also didn’t divide the remaining money and left it with Manbao, deciding to use it the next time they went out together to play.

As the night deepened and the chill grew heavier, people carrying festive lanterns began to grow sleepy and started dispersing towards home.

Those who lived in the city could walk home in a short distance, but those from outside the city in the villages gathered in various places before forming groups to leave the city and head home.

The lights in the city gradually dimmed while on the roads and paths outside the city, lantern lights flickered.

A night watchman walked along ringing his watchman’s rattle and calling out in a deep voice, "Keep an eye on your lamps, it’s dry season. Be careful with fire and candles--"