The Idea

The companions worked together until the sun rose high, and everyone was so hungry that they could hardly move. They estimated that it was time for breakfast, so they gathered their belongings and headed home.

Zhou Wulang still squatted down to carry the full load.

Manbao, however, was very concerned about her brother. He was dirty, sweaty, and smelly, so she insisted on walking back by herself.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Wulang realized that most of the way home was flat, so Manbao should be able to walk. He was reassured and held Manbao's hand as they walked home.

On the way, they encountered many villagers returning home from the fields to have breakfast. The Zhou family was currently the hot topic in the village, especially Zhou Siliang.

When they saw Zhou Siliang, they first glanced at his buttocks with concern, and then earnestly advised him, "Siliang, gambling is not a good thing." It can ruin families.

"Siliang, you are still young." Please refrain from making such mistakes in the future.

After receiving a lecture from someone, Zhou Siliang's face turned green. He didn't respond, which made Wulang and Liulang feel embarrassed. Only Manbao, being young, did not feel ashamed, and she sincerely felt that the uncles and brothers were right in their advice.

So she agreed with everything, saying, "Uncle Liu is right." If you see my fourth brother heading to the gambling den, please confront him on my behalf. When he comes back, my father will definitely treat you to a big meal.

"Yes, Big Zhuo, next time you go to the county town, please keep an eye on my fourth brother." If he's not honest, you should bring him back. "My mother will definitely thank you."

Upon seeing her fourth brother's silent and unresponsive face, Manbao was so taken aback that she even slapped him and exclaimed, "How rude!" Can't you see the uncles and brothers talking to you? "Are you not sincerely repentant and still want to gamble?"

Zhou Siliang could only express gratitude to whoever spoke to him or reprimanded him.

The villagers privately said that Siliang was probably turning over a new leaf. He was still young and could not resist temptation.

So, those who had previously considered marrying into the Zhou family now had second thoughts.

If Siliang could change for the better, he would become a very good young man. He was strong and hardworking, and the brothers were numerous and promising.

Yes, the villagers unanimously felt that the three married sons of the Zhou family were very promising. They worked hard in farming and were diligent. Similarly, Zhou Siliang should also be competent.

Their gazes toward Zhou Siliang became a little more tolerant.

Zhou Siliang did not realize this, as he was immediately instructed by his mother to go and chop wood as soon as he got home.

Now that the autumn harvest was over, the family needed to prepare firewood for the winter. In the past, the three older brothers had always been in charge of such tasks because chopping wood was heavy work that required strength.

However, because Zhou Siliang had lost money gambling, his parents decided to punish him by assigning him the task of chopping wood. This was both a punishment and a lesson for the other children and daughters-in-law in the family.

With many children in the family and varying abilities, his mother could not treat them all equally. But overall, things had to be fair; otherwise, if one of them caused trouble, the whole family would be in chaos.

His father sat on the doorstep with a worried expression, watching his fourth son go to fetch an axe. He let out a sigh and looked away.

When he saw his little daughter, he smiled and asked, "Manbao, are you back?" "Did you have fun?"

Manbao nodded happily, "Yes, father, the mountain is so much fun." "There are lots of flowers and grass up there." "I want to go again this afternoon!"

"It's too hot in the afternoon." You should rest at home and let your fourth brother go. If you like flowers, let your niece pick some for you. "You mustn't stay in the sun for too long, or you'll need medicine if you get sunburned."

Thinking of the black medicine her mother had to take, Manbao wrinkled her nose and frowned as if she were suffering.

Upon seeing this, her father's mood improved slightly, and he asked her to go inside and have breakfast.

After completing a round of farm work, the farmers had their breakfast. They only ate two meals a day.

One meal was served in the late morning, and the other was in the afternoon. After dinner and tidying up, they could go to bed once it was dark.

This was the routine for adults, but children were an exception. During the summer and autumn, the family typically prepared porridge for the children to eat at night to prevent them from feeling too hungry because of the long days.

Manbao went into the main room. Her mother, who was not feeling well, had been startled and angry the day before and was still lying in bed.

Seeing her daughter covered in grass, she couldn't help but smile and asked, "Did you have fun?"

Manbao nodded twice and sat on the edge of the bed, looking very obedient. "Mother, next time we go to the market, I want to go with my second brother."

"What are you going to do there?"

"I want to learn how to do business."

Her mother couldn't help but laugh, "You just want to play, don't you?"

After thinking for a moment, her mother agreed, "Let your second sister-in-law take you." "The older ones will all go too." "They were all scared yesterday, so going out to play will calm their nerves."

When it came to discussing business matters, her mother didn't take them seriously. In her eyes, it was just child's talk.

But Manbao didn't think it was just child's talk. She was very serious.

After breakfast, she did not go to school to study. Instead, she gathered her fifth and sixth brothers, nieces, and nephews to brainstorm.

Wulang reached out and touched his sister's forehead. "You don't have a fever, so why are you talking nonsense?"

Liulang laughed and asked, "What do we have to sell?"

Manbao shook her head and said, "We don't have anything here, but there are things outside."

She pointed to the road outside and said, "There are so many beautiful grasses and flowers outside that we can pick and sell."

Everyone: "..."

Even Sanlao said, "It won't sell!"

"Why won't it sell?" If the intelligent and capable Koko enjoys these wild grasses and flowers, then people outside should also appreciate them.

Manbao was particularly stubborn and waved her hand, saying, "It's decided." "We're going to pick flowers and pull wild grass to sell."

Wulang wanted to persuade her, but Liulang held him back, saying, "Let's listen to Manbao."

"Is our little sister silly, or are you silly?"

Liulang asked, "I'm not silly, but if we don't listen to her, can we still go to the market?"

Wulang thought about it and found it quite reasonable.

The market was quite far from their village, and it would take almost half an hour to get there. The last time they went was during the spring temple fair.

The two immediately signaled the older ones, and everyone happily agreed to Manbao's idea. They would bring many beautiful wild flowers and grasses to the market that day.

Who cares? Let's go to the market first.