Chapter 417 Documents
He smiled and nodded, "Yes, same price."
Manbao smiled and narrowed his eyes, then picked up his pen to write the document. Master Bai couldn't help but say, "Manbao, why don't you let Erlang do your document? Does Erlang know how to do it?"
Bai Erlang had of course practiced this before, and was eager to try it out upon hearing this.
This was the first time that Mr. Bai saw an expression of interest on his son's face after asking him to write something.
Mr. Bai smiled and encouraged Manbao: "Let Erlang write it."
Manbao handed the pen to Bai Erlang without thinking. These past two days, because the documents they wrote were always full of mistakes and omissions, they needed to constantly revise and rewrite them, and Manbao was tired of it.
It was the first time that Bai Erlang did such a big thing in front of his father, so he was very excited and serious. After holding the pen, he started writing seriously. However, he got stuck after writing only a paragraph.
Then he couldn't help but glance at Manbao.
This was their own document. Manbao quickly leaned over to take a look and pointed out, "There's a large blank space here. Fill in the number later."
Bai Erlang then remembered that when he was doing the homework assigned by the teacher, the teacher gave the buying and selling prices and the quantity of goods, but at this moment they did not have the quantity of goods.
Bai Erlang asked, "How many bushels of wheat do you have at home?"
"I don't know. Let's just weigh it in kilograms when the time comes," Manbao said, "so just write twelve and a half cents per kilogram here."
Bai Erlang first looked at his father.
Mr. Bai nodded with satisfaction. "Please note that it's 150 coins per dou, and fill in the quantity later."
Bai Shanbao finished the document first, but he didn't fill in the amount. Firstly, he didn't know yet, so he had to go back and check the account books that were exchanged today.
Secondly, such bulk transactions must be weighed again, and the exact figures must be filled in at that time.
After Bai Shanbao finished writing, Bai Erlang also finished writing under Manbao's guidance.
Mr. Bai read the two documents and nodded with satisfaction. "Okay, then we'll set up a time to weigh the goods tomorrow and then settle the payment."
Mr. Bai asked with a smile, "Do you want silver or copper coins?"
"silver!"
"Copper coins!"
Bai Shanbao and Manbao spoke in unison. They looked at each other and Bai Shanbao said, "Silver is better. It's easier to take and store."
Manbao thought for a moment and said, "But my family mostly uses copper coins and rarely silver."
Mr. Bai smiled and said, "If you want to pay with silver, you have to follow the market price. The current exchange rate for copper coins is 1,200 to one ounce of silver."
Manbao roughly calculated the wheat his family had, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Then let's use silver."
It’s just the right time to pay off the debt to the county government.
Mr. Bai nodded in satisfaction. Otherwise, where would he find so many copper coins?
And it's heavy to move so many copper coins around.
Mr. Bai happily handed both documents to Bai Er and said with a smile, "Son, the documents must be made in duplicate. Please copy another one according to the instructions."
Bai Erlang had already shown that he didn't feel like writing anymore. After taking a look at the document, he said, "Dad, let Manbao come. She hasn't written anything yet."
Manbao was too lazy to write and said, "Your father asked you to write it, and you can practice calligraphy at the same time, how great."
"That's right," Master Bai stuffed the document into his arms and said, "Hurry up and write. Can't you see it's getting dark outside? Have you had dinner yet?"
The three children then felt hungry, and their stomachs ached at the same time. It was because they were hungry!
Mr. Bai smiled and said, "Hurry up and write. I'll have someone prepare dinner for you."
Bai Erlang wanted to cry and asked, "Dad, can you let them help me?"
Mr. Bai said, "I don't care."
Bai Jilang looked at his two friends.
In order to eat, the two of them picked up their pens at the same time, and the three of them worked together to copy it, then put down their pens and went to have dinner.
The three of them put their worries aside and were hungry, so they ate with great relish. After Bai Erlang had gnawed on an elbow, he remembered his father and looked up and asked, "Dad, don't you want to eat?"
Mr. Bai glanced at him and said, "I brought your father back from the county."
But he was indeed a little hungry at this moment. Mr. Bai hesitated between health and food, but still picked up his chopsticks.
After the three children had eaten and drunk their fill, he called for the servants to send them away. Bai Erlang remained lingering in his chair, saying, "Dad, I won't be living over there anymore. Just have someone send Shanbao over there."
Mr. Bai glanced at him and confirmed once again that his son was a little traitor. He was too lazy to pay attention to him and waved him away.
As soon as he left the main hall, Daji followed him and bowed, saying, "Master, the mistress has been looking for you three times. You must report to the mistress when you return."
Then he said to Manbao, "Miss Man, your family has come to look for you three times. The last time was from your fourth brother. From what I heard, it seems that the master and mistress of the mansion are angry."
"Ah?" Man Bao thought for a moment and understood. It must be about the wheat exchange today. She took her documents and waved goodbye to Bai Shanbao, "See you tomorrow."
Bai Shanbao waved his paw lazily and watched her run away with her bulging belly.
The servant following Manbao hurriedly moved the lantern a little further forward and said repeatedly, "Miss Man, please slow down. You have just finished your meal."
The two of them trotted to the Zhou family's gate. The servants didn't need to go forward and knock on the door because it was wide open.
Manbao ran in and turned back to wave at him, "Go back quickly and be careful on the road."
It was not long after dark and no one had gone to bed yet. Instead, they were in the yard enjoying the cool air, chatting or doing some work.
For example, Zhou Erlang was tying up the dried bamboo strips in the dark.
But the atmosphere tonight was particularly uneasy. Seeing Manbao coming back, Zhou Wulang appeared from nowhere and whispered to her, "Dad is mad at Mom. He just found an excuse to scold my elder and second brothers..."
My elder and second brothers are so pitiful.
Old Zhou was obviously also upset, so he didn't go to bed early tonight. Instead, he sat on the threshold of the main room, enjoying the breeze, smoking, and worrying.
Qian sat on a stool not far away and combed the hair of her three granddaughters.
Manbao ran over and shouted happily, "Mom, Dad!"
Qian smiled. As soon as she heard this, she knew that the child had probably achieved his wish. She smiled and squinted her eyes and asked, "Have you eaten yet?"
"I ate it. Master Bai treated me." Manbao stopped talking to his mother and sat on the doorstep. He wiggled his little butt and moved directly to his father's side. He said happily, "Dad, guess what this is?"
Old Zhou glanced at the paper in her hand and said, "What is it? Your homework? Did the teacher praise you again?"
"No, this is the document signed between Master Bai and me," Manbao said, "I told my mother not to exchange the wheat because we can sell the wheat directly to Master Bai."
(End of this chapter)
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