Peace of Conscience

The young girl in the carriage heard the lively conversation outside and opened the curtain to look at Manbao. Seeing that she was even younger than herself, she beckoned, "Come over and talk to me."

Manbao immediately ran over and glanced at the horse wagging its tail, asking, "May I pet your horse?"

The young girl obviously didn't expect her to make such a request, hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "You can touch it if you like."

Manbao ran to the front to touch the horse, and the young girl's attention also shifted forward. She invited, "Come up to the carriage and talk to me."

The coachman was about to pick up Manbao, but Wulang, who had been paying attention, quickly stepped forward to block him and moved Manbao behind him, saying, "It's fine to talk like this, why get on the carriage?"

The servant frowned and asked, "Do you know who our young lady is?" It's an honor for your sister to talk to her.

Wulang didn't care about these things and said, "Who knows if you're just flattering?" "You can talk from a distance, or else I'll ask your young lady to come down."

Turning around, he coaxed Manbao, "Younger sister, let's go back. We'll both talk to you."

The servant was infuriated by this, but the young girl in the carriage didn't think there was anything wrong. She even felt that Wulang knew how to protect his sister.

She opened the curtain and sat on the seat of the carriage, looking not much older than Manbao.

She curiously stared at Manbao and asked, "Did you pick these flowers on the mountain?"

Manbao replied, "I didn't pick them; it was my eldest and second nieces who picked them." "I just picked a few."

The young girl smiled and said, "Some of these flowers are quite interesting, even better than the ones we have at home."

Wulang couldn't help but say, "This is nothing." "Wait until next spring; there will be even more flowers blooming on the mountain."

Children always love flowers, especially a young girl like her. She couldn't help but say, "I wonder if you can help me dig up some beautiful flowers next year." "I want to try growing a new variety at home."

Wulang didn't really want to agree. It takes a long time to travel from the village to the county town, and there is also an entrance fee to access the city.

But Manbao felt that her hobby was similar to Koko's. She happily nodded, "Alright, I'll dig them up for you next year." "Where does your family live?"

The servant hesitated to speak.

The young girl said, "My family lives behind the county yamen; it's easy to find." My surname is Fu. Just say you're looking for the second Miss of the Fu family.

This was the first friend Manbao had made outside, so she was especially happy. "My surname is Zhou, and my parents call me Manbao."

"Manbao," Fu Wenyun smiled, "Your name is really nice." My nickname is Wenyun.

Manbao praised, "Your name is also very nice."

Wenyun asked, "Is your candy homemade or store-bought?"

Manbao thought for a moment and said, "It was bought by a friend for me."

Wenyun asked, "Where did you buy it? I want to buy some too."

Manbao said, "Then buy it from me, one coin for two."

Wenyun hesitated for a moment and nodded, "Then I'll buy a little more, a hundred pieces."

"I don't have any now." I have to go home and get them. "Can my brother bring them to you tomorrow?" Manbao was going to school the next day. Since she had already visited the county town, she preferred not to return there in the short term.

Wenyun nodded and asked, "Do you require a deposit?"

"Manbao was surprised." "Do you need a deposit?" "Then give it to me."

Even the servant and Wenyun were taken aback.

The young girl was surprised for a moment and looked at the servant. The servant's expression appeared troubled, and she continued to glance at Wenyun, who, in turn, maintained her gaze on the servant. The servant had no choice but to take out ten coins and give them to Manbao, saying, "Miss Zhou, my master is the county magistrate. Tomorrow, you can come directly to the back of the county yamen and knock on the side door." Just say you're looking for the second miss.

It's no wonder the servant had to point out their identity. From their lack of reaction just now when the young lady mentioned that she lived behind the county yamen and her surname was Fu, it was obvious that they didn't know.

It's understandable that a group of young country bumpkins might find it strange to understand these things.

Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, she noticed a hint of nervousness and fear on Zhou Wulang's face. Manbao, on the other hand, appeared to have a sudden realization but did not display any fear. Instead, she curiously asked Wenyun, "Is your father particularly fair-skinned?"

Wenyun couldn't figure out her train of thought, but still nodded, "Yes, my father has fair skin."

No wonder the entrance fee increased by one coin. Hmph, Koko was right; people with fair skin are cunning.

Manbao felt that she had asked for too little money just now, but the words had already been spoken, and she couldn't change them. She decided that the next time Wenyun bought candy from her, she would raise the price.

This was something she had learned from the county magistrate.

With this decision, Manbao became happy again and actively recommended her candy to Wenyun, saying, "My candy is so sweet." "I've eaten so much candy, and no one else's candy is as good as mine."

The servant looked at Manbao and Zhou Wulang's attire and sneered, "Have you been indulging in too much candy?"

Manbao couldn't see her sarcasm, but Zhou Wulang wasn't stupid. Although he was afraid that they were from the county magistrate's family, he couldn't help but get angry when he saw his sister being looked at like that. "Of course, my sister has been eating candy since she was little." At least one piece every day. She has never stopped eating candy. "In every village and town, which child has eaten more candy than my sister?"

Wenyun and the servant were stunned.

Wenyun looked at Manbao's teeth and asked, "Are your teeth okay?"

"Of course," Manbao opened her mouth to show her, "I take good care of them." "I brush my teeth every morning and evening." "My friend said that by doing this, I won't get cavities."

Wenyun felt different from other children because she knew quite a lot.

Wenyun said, "I also eat candy often, but my teeth are a little sore." My mother doesn't let me eat too much.

The two children chatted about various topics, and Manbao had already shared her excitement about the exceptionally beautiful rooster she had seen earlier today.

Text: ### Zhou Wulang couldn't help but interrupt their conversation, "Manbao, the flower baskets are ready." ###

The servant also breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said, "Miss, we should go back."

Manbao and Wenyun were both a little reluctant to part, and they exchanged hesitant glances. Manbao's conscience was a little uneasy, so she asked, "Sister Fu, is the money for the flowers earned by you or your father?"

"Of course it's my father's," Wenyun said, "I'm still young and can't earn money yet."

So Manbao's conscience was settled again. Yes, she earned the ill-gotten money from the county magistrate, not from Wenyun's funds.

Manbao waved happily at her and said, "I'll help you put the flower baskets in the carriage."

Twenty-four flower baskets cost a total of one hundred and twenty coins. While Zhou Wulang and the others were still sweating and counting on their fingers, Manbao had already figured it out.

The servant looked at Manbao in amazement, counted the money, and gave it to her. After the carriage had traveled a distance, the servant said to Wenyun, "Miss, this young lady from the Zhou family is very clever." Her brother couldn't figure out the math, but she solved it in no time.

Wenyun also nodded, "She is very clever and knowledgeable."