Managing Money

Zhou Erlang greeted the customers while inspecting the quality of the bamboo and wicker baskets. He then pulled Manbao and Er Ya over with a stern expression on his face and said, "Why are you running around?" Don't you know there are many people in the county? What if you get lost?

After some consideration, the customers found Zhou Erlang's bamboo baskets to be of decent quality and cheaper by a penny compared to others, so they took out the money and made the purchase.

Once the customers left, Zhou Erlang had some free time and asked a few people, "Wu Lang, what were you running for just now?"

Wu Lang placed the backpack on the ground and proudly showed his older brother the big rooster inside, saying, "Look, this is what we got."

Zhou Erlang looked at the rooster, which had lost most of its feathers and had red skin from being pecked, and couldn't help but roll up his sleeves. "Are you saying that you spent sixty-five coins to buy a featherless rooster just to exchange it for this one?"

Wu Lang quickly dodged behind his older brother and grabbed his sleeve, saying, "Big brother, look, Er Lang is going to hit me again." "Do I deserve this misfortune?"

Wu Lang then proudly showed the money they had earned by opening the cloth bag he was holding and exclaimed, "See, see, Er Lang, can you earn this much money?"

Zhou Erlang was astonished, "Where did you get so much money?"

"This is nothing," Wu Lang said as he took a piece of silver from Manbao's hand and showed it to Zhou Erlang. "See, this is what we earned by using that rooster," Manbao said, revealing some copper coins in her pocket.

Wu Lang wanted to take the copper coins from Manbao's pocket, but would she give in?

Not only did she snatch back the silver, but she also tucked the cloth bag under her bottom and said, "This money is all mine." "We'll split it based on merit when we get back."

Wu Lang and the others didn't have any money, so they obediently gave all their money to Manbao. Of course, Manbao couldn't carry so much money, so Wu Lang continued to work as the laborer.

However, Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang felt uneasy. "Manbao, why do you need so much money?"

Zhou Erlang squatted down to coax her, "Er Lang will help you keep it. I'll buy you meat and candy in the future."

Manbao considered herself an adult and had experience managing finances, so she was most interested in planning her money. How could she be willing to give it to them?

So she stuffed the silver ingot into her small pocket and covered it, saying, "No, I'll handle my own money."

Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang then glared at Wu Lang.

Wu Lang also held onto the cloth bag tightly. If the money was in Manbao's hands, they might still get a little, but if it was in the hands of their older brothers, they wouldn't get a single coin.

Zhou Dalang sighed and asked, "What do you need the money for?"

If it were just a few coins, Manbao could keep them, but this was several hundred coins.

Manbao counted on her fingers and said, "I want to buy medicine for my mother, chickens, meat, clothes, as well as oil, paper, books, and more."

Manbao realized she couldn't count on her fingers, so she drew a circle and said, "I want to buy a lot of things."

Zhou Dalang hesitated and said, "Then give the money to your older brother. If you need to buy something in the future, ask your older brother, okay?"

Zhou Dalang added, "You keep the money." "What if you lose it?"

"It won't get lost," Manbao said confidently, "Wu Lang is holding it now. When we get home, I'll hide it in my room." I know where Mother hides her money and where Father hides his money. "I'll hide my money somewhere else."

Zhou Liulang exclaimed, "Father still has money?"

"Yes, I found it, and Father told me not to tell Mother."

Wu Lang and Liulang exchanged a glance, as if they had just discovered something extraordinary.

Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang exchanged glances. As married men, they knew exactly what their father was up to.

The two of them coughed lightly and didn't press Manbao any further, just reminding her, "Since father told you not to tell anyone, don't mention this matter again in the future."

"Huh, Father didn't tell me not to tell anyone; he just told me not to tell Mother."

The Zhou family and others wondered if it was okay to tell them, right?

Zhou Dalang warned Wu Lang and Liulang with a glance, "You're not allowed to talk about this when we get back."

Then, along with Zhou Erlang, they took their respective daughters aside, gave them some instructions, and considered the matter closed.

Zhou Erlang's business wasn't doing very well, but he still managed to sell several baskets, which he considered a decent source of income. However, Zhou Erlang felt that it was inadequate compared to Manbao and the others.

Since it was still early, they didn't rush back home. Manbao continued to take her two brothers and two nieces shopping.

Of course, this time, Zhou Dalang requested that they could only walk on this street and not go outside.

It couldn't be helped; their youngest sister was too bold. She even dared to go to the gambling street. Who knew what she might do if she ran out?

Manbao didn't mind. The street mainly sold agricultural products, but she enjoyed herself nonetheless. Of course, she preferred to go to the shops behind the stalls.

Coincidentally, there was both a grain shop and a grocery store there. She first selected a roll of good-quality oil paper and then bought some millet from the grain shop. When she heard Zhou Dalang calling them to go home, she leisurely left.

Zhou Dalang looked at the items they had purchased and decided to discuss them with his wife when they returned. They had to take all the money from Manbao because she was too good at spending it. They had come to sell grain because they were short of money, but as soon as they turned around, she went to buy millet from the grain shop.

But Manbao's reason was also very valid: "I asked, and millet is good for the stomach and energy." I want to give it to my mother.

Zhou Dalang sighed repeatedly, "We have it at home. We can grind it at home." "Why did you buy it?"

Manbao was stunned and asked, "Do we have it at home?" "Why have I never eaten it before?"

Zhou Dalang looked down at the bag Liulang was holding and remained silent.

Liulang grinned, "Youngest sister, you're so silly." We eat millet with the husk on. "With your small throat, of course, you can't eat it."

Zhou Dalang lifted Manbao onto the cart and said, "We will keep it for the coming year, in April or May, when there is a shortage of food." You should inform your older brother if you plan to make a purchase in the future. "If we already have it at home, don't buy it."

Manbao was dumbfounded. "Does our family not know how to grind the husk?" "Why do we have to eat it with the husk?"

Liulang also complained, "I told you before that we have it at home, but you didn't believe me." Look, now you've wasted money, right?

Manbao hummed, "Who told you to lie to me so often? Your credibility is so low, of course, I don't believe you."

Liulang choked up and angrily asked, "Did Liulang teach you to say these things?"

"Wu Lang, do not accuse me falsely." How could I teach Manbao to say such things? I don't even know what credibility is. But, Manbao, you used the word well. Wu Lang's credibility is indeed very low; in fact, it's non-existent.

The two brothers playfully bickered, but Zhou Dalang didn't pay them any attention. He lifted his two nieces onto the cart and quickly walked out of the city. They had to get back home before sunset.