Contentment

Uncle Shi cleared his throat and bowed to Zhou Dalang. Just as he was about to speak, his eyes suddenly fixed on the rooster in Zhou Sirlang's arms.

His eyes lit up as he eagerly approached, running his hand over the rooster's sleek feathers, and asked as if meeting a lover, "Is this the rooster you've been talking about?"

The entire Zhou family and others were startled by Uncle Shi's enthusiasm; even Zhou Dalang was momentarily speechless.

But Manbao was not taken aback. She joined Uncle Shi in rushing forward, standing by her fourth brother's side, and proudly asked, "How about it? Isn't our rooster impressive?"

"Very impressive," Zhou Dalang said, feeling the rooster once more. "How much do you want for it?"

Manbao hesitated, scratching her head. She hadn't thought about the price because she believed that since they liked the rooster so much, they should be able to sell it for a good price.

The most important thing was to find a handsome rooster for them so that they would be willing to sell the featherless rooster to her at a lower price.

Manbao couldn't help but glance at the featherless rooster again.

Uncle Shi chuckled and asked, "Do you want this rooster?" As he followed her gaze.

Manbao nodded.

"What for?"

"To make soup," Manbao looked up at Uncle Shi, "roosters are very nourishing, and my mother wants to eat rooster soup."

"This rooster is only good for making soup, but…" Uncle Shi looked puzzled. "Do you raise roosters at home?"

"We have to eat them every day." This rooster is more expensive than yours. "If I buy this one, I can still buy a second one."

Uncle Shi couldn't help but laugh. "Well done, well done." You're very clever. "Alright, I'll buy this rooster."

Uncle Shi almost couldn't wait to take the rooster from Zhou Sirlang's arms. He patted it gently before placing it on the ground, satisfied to see it lively and healthy.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small silver coin, and tossed it to Manbao. "Here, I've bought this rooster." "The other one is a gift for you."

Manbao looked at the coin and asked, "How much does it weigh?"

Uncle Shi felt a bit guilty but maintained a strong and confident demeanor. "It's probably about three to five taels." "You can weigh it yourself when you get home."

Manbao felt that the silver coin was not very reliable and asked, "Don't you have any copper coins?"

"Who goes out gambling and carries a bunch of copper coins?" "It's too heavy," Uncle Shi said. "Do you want it or not?" "If not, I won't buy it."

Before Manbao could respond, Zhou Wulang quickly expressed his desire. Even Zhou Dalang couldn't help but say to Manbao, "There should be three taels, which is enough."

He knew that the rooster had cost sixty-five wen and three taels of silver, which would be equivalent to three hundred wen in copper coins.

Zhou Dalang looked at the pitiful, nearly featherless rooster on the ground and thought that its appearance wouldn't affect its taste.

Upon hearing her older brother's confirmation, Manbao was also very happy. She held the silver coin and completed the transaction with Uncle Shi, saying, "Next time I have a good rooster, I'll come to you."

"It has to be good at fighting; otherwise, it's not as impressive as this one," Uncle Shi said.

After witnessing their transaction, the people around the Zhou family followed them. As soon as they left Uncle Shi's sight, they immediately approached and said, "You're really foolish." The rooster is worth at least five taels of silver. You sold it to Uncle Shi for just a few coins. "You should go back and negotiate a better price."

Zhou Dalang and his brothers were stunned. "Is a rooster worth that much?"

"This is no ordinary rooster." It's a money-making rooster. Uncle Shi is gambling on it. Do you know how much it's worth? At least twenty tales. If this rooster wins, he could win a lot!

The person made a gesture, and everyone was shocked, except for Manbao, who looked down on them with disdain. "How foolish."

The blood of the Zhou family boiled, but then cooled down. Yes, what if it loses?

Ever since her fourth brother lost money gambling, Manbao had heard many tragic stories from Koko about the countless races and intelligent species throughout history and in the future who had been ruined by gambling, even losing their own lives.

Koko had said that gambling is mostly about losing. The only winner might not necessarily be determined solely by skill and luck. Hadn't Uncle Shi just mentioned that there was a lot of cheating in the gambling den? People outside might not know, but they were simply too afraid to speak up. Why?

They were afraid of being beaten or killed.

Manbao concluded that the more powerful individual would emerge victorious.

If her fourth brother was unbeatable, would anyone dare to win his money?

"But that rooster is worth five taels of silver!" Zhou Wulang still felt a bit unwilling.

"Brother, that rooster was originally only worth sixty-five wen." "We not only earned more money but also received a rooster for free," Manbao explained, providing her own reasoning. She held up her little finger and said, "If the rooster seller found out about this, wouldn't he be furious?" If Uncle Shi takes this rooster to gamble and loses, he not only loses money but also the money he paid us for the rooster.

Zhou Wulang thought about it and felt much better.

Zhou Dalang also said, "Contentment is the key." "Look at how grown up you are, and you understand things better than your brother."

"Big brother, don't talk about me." "Weren't you regretting it just now?" Zhou Wulang was not very convinced, but he couldn't help but look at his younger sister with newfound respect. "Manbao, you're really clever." "Our parents always said you were smarter than all of us, and I didn't believe it, but now I see that you really are very clever."

Manbao proudly nodded, not at all modest, and said, "It's nothing special. Mainly because my friend taught me, and I learn quickly."

"What friend?" "Isn't it, Mr.?" "Zhuang?" Zhou Wulang said. "Now that you've become Mr. Zhuang's student, you can't just call him a friend all the time." "You have to call him teacher."

He added, "Actually, I think you're smarter than us because of our parents…"

"Wulang, what nonsense are you talking?" Zhou Dalang slapped him on the head. Zhou Wulang realized he had said too much, quickly covering his mouth and nervously looking at Manbao.

But Manbao reassured Zhou Dalang, "Big brother, don't be angry. Little brother is just a bit foolish." You're smarter than him, like father.

Manbao proudly declared, "I'm like my mother. She's a bit smarter than my father." My little brother doesn't resemble anyone. I don't know if he was picked up from the street. Sigh, Mother is always worried. Every night before bed, she says, "I don't know if little Wulang will ever get married.""'"

Zhou Dalang and Zhou Liulang: ...

Zhou Wulang became indignant, "Where am I foolish? I'm just honest, like my father, you know?"

Manbao shook her head and said, "I don't see any resemblance to our father in you." If you don't believe me, go home and ask your father if you resemble him.

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