Old Zhou glanced at his daughter and asked, "What are you going to the county for?"
Manbao couldn't say she was going to sell candy since her family had always suspected that her candy was given by Mr. Zhuang or the students at the academy. She was worried that they might bring it up when they went to inquire about apprenticeships the next day.
So she could only make up another excuse, "I want to go and broaden my horizon."
Zhou ErLang said, "What kind of horizon can a little child like you possibly need to broaden? Wait until you grow up a bit more before going."
But by the time she grew up, they would no longer be short of money. Also, Manbao had a significant harvest today, and she felt like she needed to verify her own conclusions.
So she insisted, "No, I must go the day after tomorrow. Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother are going too. Just let them take me, Big Brother and Second Brother don't have to worry."
Old Zhou looked sternly at her.
Was Manbao afraid of him?
Of course not. She slid off the legs of Zhou Dalang to the ground, rushed forward, and clung to Old Zhou's arm, twining around him like a twisty candy, "Dad, Dad, please agree to it."
Seeing that he remained unmoved, Manbao tugged at his sleeve while punching his shoulder lightly with her small fists, "Dad, I'll go buy you candy to eat, just agree, please."
Could Old Zhou be bribed with candy?
He was not a child after all.
But still, "Where would you get the money?"
"I will earn it, Dad, just allow me to go to the county, and I will be able to earn money," Manbao said as she moved from massaging his left shoulder to the right.
Seeing this, Zhou Dalang couldn't help but laugh, and spoke on her behalf, "Dad, let her go. It just so happens that after two days we not only have to take grains but also some eggs. Two traded quite a few eggs that can't be transported on the cart but need to be carried on our backs."
Zhou Er thought too, "It seems like Little Sister has never been to the county before. Since Five and Sixth are also going, I'm thinking of bringing some winnowing baskets and carrying baskets to sell there. The prices in the county are a bit higher than in the market, and we might make a good profit."
Old Zhou finally kept quiet.
Manbao redoubled her efforts to massage his shoulders, "Dad, please agree, agree to it."
Persistently nagging from one ear to the other, Old Zhou was annoyed by her noise and waved his hand, "Alright, alright, you can go. But you do know that your brothers have to leave before it gets light, will you be able to get up that early?"
"I can get up, I get up really early!"
Believe her? Old Zhou said, "If you don't wake up, we will not wake you, and if you can't go, you're not allowed to cry."
Manbao was confident, "I will definitely wake up."
She then instructed the system in her mind, "Keke, you must wake me up the day after tomorrow, alright?"
Keke had not expected to function as an alarm clock as well, but since it wanted its host to go out and see the world, it nodded in agreement.
Ms.Qian had already assigned the tasks of tailoring clothes and making shoes. The clothes made by farm families were not that delicate; after cutting well, just sewing up was enough, and it was fine as long as the stitches were neat and firm.
The best tailor in the family was Third Sister-in-law Ms.He. She took on the task and started cutting the cloth. Mr. Zhuang's physique was similar to Zhou Er's, so she used Zhou Er's measurements for the tailoring.
To finish by the next day, Ms.He didn't have to do anything else in the afternoon, she just focused on tailoring and mending. Ms.Qian was even unusually generous, lighting an oil lamp for their use after dark.
Nevertheless, the work was completed swiftly.
Ms.Qian was responsible for making shoes. The soles were also ready-made, using the same ones as Zhou Er's because he walked a lot, and Ms.Feng had specially made thicker soles for him, which were very comfortable to step on.
The uppers used cotton cloth specifically purchased for the shoes, which was much better than the homespun fabric they made.
The next day, Old Zhou and his two sons got out their best clothes, washed and cleaned up, then had Junior Ms.Qian dig their daughter out of bed to prepare for visiting the school to seek apprenticeship.
Manbao had peeled candy late into the night, and just as she was turning over in bed, sticking out her buttocks, she was reluctant to get up.
Seeing that she kept burrowing into the blanket, Junior Ms.Qian took over her jacket, flipped the blanket, and smacked her little buttocks, "Little miss, it's getting late; you have to be good today since you're going to pay respects to your teacher."
Holding her, she helped her put on her clothes and then, with her eyes still closed, she carried her to the chair and used a wrung-out towel to wipe her face.
The water was warm, but Manbao still jolted awake and reluctantly opened her eyes.
It was Ms.Feng's turn to cook today, and she brought from the kitchen a bowl of egg water, placing it on the table, "Little miss, remember to drink the egg water before you go."
The sun had just begun to rise, and Old Zhou led his two sons, followed by Manbao, to the school.
Mr. Zhuang knew that Manbao would come to seek apprenticeship today. He also got up early and was practicing boxing in the courtyard.
Seeing Mr. Zhuang, Old Zhou's back instinctively straightened out of reverence for the learned.
Mr. Zhuang smiled warmly, "Old Zhou has arrived? Please come inside."
"Yes, yes, Mr. Zhuang, please go ahead." Old Zhou bowed and let Mr. Zhuang enter first.
However, Manbao was quite familiar with Mr. Zhuang and very forward; she first escorted Mr. Zhuang into the study to sit down. Then, she went to help her father. Looking around and seeing a familiar stove burning, she eagerly carried water over for them.
Zhou Dalang and Zhou Er hurried over to take the water from her. Manbao never did such chores at home, and what if she scalded her hand?
Mr. Zhuang, however, was very pleased and, stroking his beard, smiled at Old Zhou, "Old Zhou, you have raised a good daughter. In all the surrounding miles, I've not seen a child more clever than her."
"It's all thanks to your teaching," Old Zhou knew about Manbao peeking in at the study from the window. Initially, he was distressed, but after worrying, the only thing he could do was let his girl learn as much as she could sneakily.
Because he knew the more skilled she became, the better her life would be.
As long as Mr. Zhuang did not drive Manbao away, he wouldn't restrict the child.
So, regarding Mr. Zhuang, Old Zhou had always been full of reverence and gratitude, and his back was bent even more now.
Mr. Zhuang, still smiling, said, "The child is good on her own. She is not only clever but also filial. She knows to clean up the yard for me and to think of her parents and family. It shows the good family upbringing of Old Zhou. I've decided to take this child as my disciple. However, I can only teach her by my side for now; as for entering the school, we still need to ask Old Master Bai's permission."
After all, it was Old Master Bai who had founded the school, and he too had been employed by Old Master Bai.
Old Zhou's spirits lifted, and he immediately replied, "Actually, being able to study under you is already enough; whether or not she enters the school doesn't matter."
Old Zhou was worried about the necessity of contributing tuition for the apprenticeship. His face flushed red as he said, "Mr. Zhuang also knows, my family is poor…"
Faltering and not finishing his sentence, Old Zhou tensed, but Mr. Zhuang understood and laughed heartily, "Old Zhou, rest assured, since I am taking Manbao as a disciple, I consider her as my own child, and naturally, I wouldn't collect any tuition."
He paused then added, "I am also aware of the difficulties your family faces, and since Manbao is still young, there's no need to buy anything for her. In the future, as she learns to read and write, she can copy textbooks here at my place."
Actually, the Zhou family coming to seek apprenticeship for Manbao was not something Mr. Zhuang had been completely certain about beforehand. Now that the Zhou family had arrived, Mr. Zhuang couldn't help but exclaim inwardly at how much the Zhou family cherished Manbao.