operation

The magistrate, Fu, nodded in understanding, but still said, "The county office is not affluent, and the current meals for the laborers are based on old customs." It may be difficult to change the system.

Mǎn Bǎo furrowed her small eyebrows, wondering why it would be difficult. Isn't it just about making money? And besides, not everyone ate much.

Mǎn Bǎo was about to speak when the county magistrate suddenly asked Bái Shàn Bǎo, "What is the name of the young master?"

Bái Shàn Bǎo temporarily closed his mouth. His mother had told him that it was impolite to interrupt when others were speaking and to wait until they had finished before speaking.

Bái Shàn Bǎo straightened his small chest and said, "My name is Bái Shàn."

"Is Bái Lì from Qīlǐ Village related to you?" Magistrate Fu smiled and asked.

Bái Shàn Bǎo hesitated for a moment and said, "He is my uncle."

"Oh, does Bai Li have a brother?"

Bái Shàn Bǎo replied, "My father and my uncle are cousins."

Magistrate Fu nodded, thinking that Bái Shàn Bǎo was a relative of the Bái family who had come to rely on Bái Lì. He smiled and asked, "Do you have a talent for studying? Is your father also involved in education now?"

Bái Shàn Bǎo lowered his hand and replied, "My father was a jinshi in the first year of Dàzhēn." In the second year of Dàzhēn, he was appointed as the county magistrate of Bāxī County, but he died in office while pursuing bandits.

Bái Shàn Bǎo pursed his lips, looking unhappy. These words were not his own, but something his grandmother had said to someone else. Bái Shàn Bǎo had replaced the son with his father.

This reminded him of some unpleasant memories.

Mǎn Bǎo sensed her friend's unhappiness and immediately put aside thoughts of the laborers and meals, reaching out to grab his hand.

Bái Shàn Bǎo's hand was held by a pair of plump hands. He looked to the side and felt much better, his spirits restored. He looked up at Magistrate Fu.

Magistrate Fu did not expect that this was the orphan of an old colleague. At that time, there were few officials, leading to a small bureaucratic circle. The second year of Dàzhēn was not too long ago, and he quickly remembered, "Your father is Bái Qǐ?"

Bái Shàn Bǎo said in a childish voice, "That's right, my father!"

Magistrate Fu couldn't help but sigh and said, "So it's the son of an old friend." Would you be willing to come to the county school to study? "I can provide you with a letter of recommendation."

Bái Shàn Bǎo shook his head and said, "Thank you, sir." However, my knowledge is not sufficient to attend the county school. "I'll consider it when I'm older."

Magistrate Fu nodded with satisfaction and said, "Very well, Bái is also a worthy successor."

Mǎn Bǎo looked at him curiously, wanting to say something, but Bái Shàn Bǎo squeezed her hand tightly, and she remained silent.

Magistrate Fu did not speak to the two children anymore. Instead, he had the bailiffs take them away before going to inspect the embankment.

He was here for an inspection. In the past, he would just come and go, but this time, he had come to see the progress of the project, which was already halfway completed.

Bái Shàn Bǎo held Mǎn Bǎo's hand and walked far away. Only after walking a great distance did they finally turn back to see Magistrate Fu and the others from behind.

Mǎn Bǎo also turned back and saw that only her fourth brother and Dàjí were there. She said, "He lied." He doesn't even know your father.

Bái Shàn nodded, "I know. If he did, my grandmother would have visited when we moved here."

"Why would he lie then?"

Bái Shàn Bǎo, who is a year older than Mǎn Bǎo and has received a different education, said, "It's just a formality." Besides, Bāxī County is not far from here, and it falls under the jurisdiction of Miánzhōu, similar to Luójiāng County. Of course, he would say something. As for you, please refrain from speaking so freely in the future. People outside the village are different from those in the village.

Mǎn Bǎo exclaimed, "So Luójiāng County is under Miánzhōu." Have you been there?

Zhōu Sìláng couldn't help but facepalm at the lack of focus.

But Bái Shàn Bǎo accepted it well. He quickly set aside his worries and became happy again, saying, "I haven't been there, but since it's the capital, it must be more prosperous than Luójiāng County." "We'll go when we're older."

Mǎn Bǎo nodded, "I want to eat a lot of food." "I need to grow up quickly."

Bái Shàn Bǎo nodded in agreement, "I also need to learn how to ride a horse, or else walking is too tiring."

"We don't have a horse, and horses are expensive. Can we ride a donkey?"

Bái Shàn Bǎo hesitated, "That should be fine."

Zhōu Sìláng grabbed the back of each of their collars and dragged them towards the Zhōu family's stall, saying, "Enough already. Our family doesn't even have a donkey." After wandering around for so long, aren't you hungry? Hurry up and eat something before going back. "The second brother shouldn't have brought you here today."

Dàjí silently followed, allowing Zhōu Sìláng to drag their young master.

Upon returning home, Mǎn Bǎo suddenly exclaimed, "Magistrate Fu forgot to return our written work."

Bái Shàn Bǎo also felt regretful. After all, they had spent a long time writing it. So, they sighed together for a while and even felt a bit down when they went to school the next day.

Mr. Zhuāng saw the two children with their heads hanging down like wilted eggplants and couldn't help but take them aside to ask. After hearing their situation, he said, "It's nothing." The article is written by you. Furthermore, you will need to revise it in the future. Just write it again, review the old to learn the new. Even if the content is the same, the written article should be different.

Mr. Zhuāng then assigned them homework, saying, "Based on the visit to inspect the construction of the embankment, write about it again." This time, you are not allowed to write together. Each of you write your own.

The two children widened their eyes, contemplating the task of writing so many words, and their hands began to feel a bit sore.

Mr. Zhuāng said, "You are still young, so I'll give you more time." Please submit it before the winter solstice break.

Mǎn Bǎo counted on her fingers and realized that there was still a long time until the winter solstice. She immediately became happy and agreed with Bái Shàn Bǎo.

Upon witnessing the two children regain their spirits, Mr. Zhuāng escorted them back to the classroom and declared, "Let's begin the lesson."

Although there was still a long time until the winter solstice, Bái Shàn Bǎo and Mǎn Bǎo did not dare to slack off. After all, the article was quite long, and it had taken them a whole year to write it.

After school, the two children returned to the Bái family together and skillfully took out their writing materials from the study.

This had become a habit for the two children over the past year. When they didn't go out to play, they would come to the Bái family's study to do their homework and study. After all, the Zhou family didn't have a study, not even a desk. Mǎn Bǎo had to do her homework while lying on the dining table, and it was boring to work without anyone to talk to.

Bái Shàn Bǎo also enjoyed having someone accompany him while doing homework. The two of them tacitly took their respective places and arranged their writing materials.

They looked at each other, and Bái Shàn Bǎo pushed the white paper in front of him, saying, "You're not allowed to peek at mine."

Mǎn Bǎo, who was about to peek, snorted and turned her head, saying, "I won't peek at yours either." "And you're not allowed to peek at mine."

The two children warily glanced at each other and placed a book in the middle to block each other's line of sight. Then they began to ponder how to write in a way that would surpass the other.