Bai Erlang was finally persuaded, because Bai Shanbao had said, "If everything written in the agricultural books can be achieved, then you'll definitely make big money. With money, maybe we can go to Yizhou—do you know Yizhou? When I was returning to Longzhou this time, I passed through Yizhou, and it was really bustling there."
Manbao also chimed in, "With money, the next time your dad beats you, you can just take the money and stay in the town, buy lots and lots of tasty food, eat a bowl and throw it away, and your dad wouldn't be able to beat you."
As it turned out, Bai Erlang was actually tempted.
So, he was incited to go home and ask his old man for land, for people, for oxen...
Old Master Bai nearly fell off his chair when his son said he wanted a hundred acres of land just for fun.
He widened his eyes and demanded, "Say that again?"
Bai Erlang cowered and immediately shrank his neck, quickly responding, "Dad, just pretend I was joking, I don't want any land."