Doing Homework Together
Zhou Erlang took the money and said, "Chicken is too expensive. Let's buy pork instead." We can buy one pound at a time, which will last us five times.
Man Bao was not happy. "Pork is not as delicious as chicken, and one pound is not enough."
Zhou Erlang thought his younger sister was too picky. However, since the money was from her, he didn't argue with her and said, "Alright, I will go to Zhou Hu's house to pick a plump chicken."
Only then was Man Bao satisfied.
Seeing Man Bao's family coming to buy chicken again, Zhou Hu couldn't help but ask, "You have a lot of chickens at home, why do you keep buying them?"
"The chickens at home that don't lay eggs have mostly been slaughtered." How can we bear to slaughter the ones that are currently laying eggs?
It was the New Year, so, naturally, their family couldn't simply consume meat bought from external sources. They had also slaughtered many of their own chickens in the past two months.
Zhou Hu couldn't help but say, "Your family really spoils Man Bao." Last year, Man Bao alone bought three chickens from my house.
Zhou Erlang couldn't let his younger sister have such a reputation, so he immediately said, "My sister is stubborn." She overheard a doctor in the city recommending that their mother should consume more meat for her health. "So, for the past six months, every time my mother had difficulty breathing, she insisted on eating meat."
Zhou Hu was surprised and said, "Your mother's complexion is indeed better this year." "I just saw her working in the fields."
"Of course, it's because it has been effective that my father was willing to spend so much money on meat." Otherwise, the cost of medicine would be even higher. "If eating meat is efficient, then it is certainly better to consume meat."
Zhou Hu quickly grabbed a chicken for himself and said, "Alright, but we don't have any hens that don't lay eggs left." Next time you come, I won't have any to sell to you.
Zhou Erlang understood and took the chicken back.
In the evening, Old Zhou announced at the dinner table, "We are having meat for dinner tonight, so this will be our New Year's feast." Tomorrow, everyone must go to work.
Seeing Man Bao looking at him with bright eyes, Old Zhou said, "Man Bao, go to school. Eldest and Eldest Miss, go to the mountain." Second Miss and Second Mister, please stay at home to take care of your younger siblings and assist with the housework. Remember to pick up your younger aunt from school.
Everyone agreed, and as soon as Old Zhou served a piece of meat to Qian Shi, everyone immediately stood up.
The next day, the entire Zhou family went to work. They dug holes, shoveled mud on the mountain, and swept away the rotten leaves. When there weren't enough rotten leaves, Zhou Wulang took his younger brother and nieces to pull down the leaves from the trees, resembling locusts passing through.
The leaves and mud were carried back separately. Qian Shi, along with Zhou Xi and the two sisters-in-law, chopped up the leaves and dry grass, throwing them aside. They mixed the leaves, dry grass, soil, and manure to make fertilizer.
The commotion in the Zhou family was significant, and many villagers came to watch. Most of them squatted on the side to watch, while some helped out and asked Old Zhou, "What are you doing?"
When Man Bao returned from school, she saw many families in the village digging holes. As she ran past them, everyone stopped to greet her, "Man Bao, you're back from school."
"Man Bao, study hard."
"Man Bao is becoming more intelligent as she ages."
Man Bao was delighted to hear all the praise and ran out of the house after putting down her school bag. Zhou Er followed her and asked, "Little aunt, where are you going?"
"I'm going to find Bai Shanbao!"
Bai Shanbao hadn't returned home yet. He was squatting on the ground, playing with insects with a few male classmates. When Man Bao patted him and asked, "What's up?"
Man Bao took his friend's hand and said excitedly, "Come with me."
Man Bao took him around the entire village. After running around in circles, Bai Shanbao still didn't understand what she was doing and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Haven't you heard?" Man Bao said, "Many people are praising me."
Bai Shanbao was annoyed and asked, "Did you bring me here just for this?" "I've already made plans with my classmates to go dig for earthworms."
"So many people are praising me." "Aren't you happy?" Man Bao asked.
"They're not praising me, so why should I be happy?" Bai Shanbao retorted.
Man Bao thought about it and insisted, "I want you to experience what it's like to be praised by many people."
Bai Shanbao snorted, "It's no big deal. I'm also often praised by people."
So, he took her to Bai Erlang's house. It wasn't his own house, but Bai Erlang's house. He knocked on the door, and the doorman, upon seeing him, praised him, "The young master is here." Please come in. Young Master looks very spirited today. "Did Mr. Zhuang praise you again?"
Bai Shanbao nodded and said with a smile, "I haven't finished my homework, so I came to ask Second Uncle about it."
The doorman immediately showed him the way. Along the way, Bai Shanbao encountered numerous servants, and each one praised him upon seeing him.
It wasn't until he saw Bai's old lady and Bai's wife that both the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law praised Bai Shanbao. They also praised Man Bao, but their praise was more directed towards Bai Shanbao.
Man Bao: ...
When Man Bao was led out by Bai Shanbao, she was still a little dazed. Bai Shanbao said, "If you want to hear people praise me, just come to the Bai family."
Man Bao thought he was amazing and then asked in confusion, "Why do they praise you?"
"Because I'm smarter than Bai Erlang." Every time we do homework together, I finish before he even starts, so he always gets scolded by Uncle Tang. Whenever he bullies me at school, I bring my homework to his house to complete it. Haha..."
Man Bao thought his idea was great.
Bai Shanbao asked her, "Why do the villagers praise you?"
Man Bao had already figured it out and said, "It must be because of the fertilizer. I saw them all digging holes."
Bai Shanbao curiously asked, "Has your fertilizer come out?"
"My father said, 'It's almost ready.'" When it's ready, I'll give you a basket. "Would you like to try my fertilizer on your ginger plant?"
Bai Shanbao hesitated and said, "Alright, I've been afraid to water it too much lately. It's growing really fast." "It's already longer than my finger."
Man Bao proudly declared, "Mine is as long as a palm, longer than yours."
After the two children made an agreement, Bai Shanbao invited Man Bao, "Come to my house after dinner to do homework."
Man Bao rolled her eyes and said, "Let's go to Bai Erlang's house to do homework together."
Bai Shanbao asked her, "Did Bai Erlang bully you?"
"No, I just want to see how he does his homework."
Bai Shanbao chuckled and patted his chest, "Alright, come find me, and I'll take you there."
Bai Erlang was unaware as he ran around on the grass with his little friends.