Chapter 443: Do What You Don’t Want
Mr. Zhuang put down his textbooks and said to Bai Shanbao and Manbao, "Please compile what we just taught into a book and think about it carefully. If you have any questions, discuss them among yourselves. If you still can't figure it out, ask me."
The two agreed.
Mr. Zhuang walked behind Bai Erlang and watched him do his homework. After a while, he nodded slightly and then walked to the back rows of the classroom with his hands behind his back.
There were a few young men sitting there at the moment. They were all students from his school before and had just dropped out and returned home a few years ago.
Mr. Zhuang walked up to them and asked with a smile, "Is there any problem?"
The young men all stood up and saluted, blushing as they said, "Sir, please teach us some more accounting skills. We are going to the county town to find work."
In the past, no matter how hard I tried in class, I would still get distracted. Now I regret it so much.
Mr. Zhuang smiled and said, "You guys have learned math quite well. It's not difficult at all. But if you want to be a good accountant, book knowledge alone is not enough. When you go to the county, you should listen more, watch more, and talk less. See how the experienced accountants do it."
Mr. Zhuang said, "Be more diligent and learn more about their strengths. You will eventually learn their abilities."
Mr. Zhuang took their abacus and put the beads back in place one by one. He said, "Show me your abacus first. Basically, if you are good at abacus, then there will be no problem."
Because a novice accountant can only use an abacus or copy account books.
The boys nodded excitedly and took out their abacuses, waiting for the teacher to ask questions.
Manbao and the others didn't even raise their heads, because Mr. Zhuang's teaching speed had increased a lot today, and Bai Erlang just glanced back and continued to concentrate on doing his homework.
After listening to Mr. Zhuang's lecture in the morning and observing the progress of Bai Shanbao and Manbao, he felt that if he didn't work harder, he would definitely be beaten by his father when he returned home.
Mr. Zhuang is keeping a close eye on them now. He doesn't let them run around when lunch is served, and he doesn't even let Manbao go back for lunch.
Old Madam Liu usually asked the kitchen to prepare lunch for them. Since the large classroom was no longer in place, the meals for the master and his disciples were mostly provided by Bai Shanbao's family.
Old Zhou's family sent a bag of milled rice to Shanbao's family after the beginning of the year. Old Zhou estimated that since his daughter came home every now and then for lunch, the bag of rice would be enough for her to eat until the New Year.
After all, it’s just one meal a day, right?
In addition, the Zhou family basically sends some vegetables to the Bai family every other day. They are all grown in their own vegetable garden and are fresh and delicious.
Although the Bai family may not be interested in it, because they also grow a lot of vegetables in Qili Village.
But every time Xiao Qian sent some, the Bai family would accept them, and sometimes they would also send back some vegetables that they had grown well.
The two families have always had such exchanges.
Today, the Bai family sent lunch for the three of them as usual. Mr. Zhuang had lunch with them and then told them a little story after the meal.
Of course it is a historical story, the kind written in history books.
But Mr. Zhuang was right. The three children, especially Manbao, listened with great interest.
After finishing the story, Mr. Zhuang let them take a nap.
He felt that Manbao had grown up and become a little girl, so he specially placed a large screen in the study. The screen was made of bamboo and was kindly provided by Zhou Erlang.
Behind the screen is a small couch, which is where Manbao rests.
On this side of the screen is where Mr. Zhuang, Bai Shanbao and Bai Erlang rest.
Of course, Mr. Zhuang would not lie here under most circumstances, but today Mr. Zhuang seemed particularly excited. He did not go back to his room for a nap, but leaned on the couch and chatted with them.
Although it was just gossip, Bai Shanbao and the others were able to learn a lot.
When they got up in the afternoon, they continued to study. He even extended the teaching time and did not let them go until it was almost time for dinner.
Manbao went home with his small bookcase on his back and a straw hat on, sighing to Koko in his heart, "What's wrong with the master?"
Koko said very experiencedly: "Just wait for him to calm down after a while."
"Did anything exciting happen to you, sir?"
Koko said, "He probably felt like he'd found a gifted student, so he was very excited. Just like the story in your history books about a horse breeder who suddenly encountered a rare and exceptionally talented horse."
Manbao pouted, "The genius student you're talking about isn't Bai Shanbao?"
"No, it's you?"
"Huh?" Manbao's eyes lit up. "Didn't you say Bai Shanbao is smarter than me?"
Keke said: "But host, you have me."
Manbao asked uncertainly, "So are you praising me or yourself?"
Koko said electronically, "Both."
Manbao went home while chatting with Keke.
Old Zhou was waiting for her at home. As soon as he saw her come back, he said, "Come on, Manbao, Dad told you that our family has already calculated how many bags of wheat we need to buy."
"How many?"
"Six Bags, when are you going to tell Mr. Bai?"
Manbao said, "You don't need to tell Mr. Bai, just tell Bai Shanbao. No, you don't need to tell him either. Just take the money and go to their house to buy it. He has already arranged it with the head of the Bai village, so just weigh it."
Old Zhou was a little disappointed. "Weigh it?"
"Yes," Manbao said, "The measuring bucket is too deceptive. If you're not careful, you can measure too much."
"The ones who were cheated were the sellers, and now we are the buyers." Old Zhou looked at his daughter with disappointment.
Manbao said, "We are the buyers now and we are being cheated. When we are the sellers, we will also be cheated."
Qian also heard it at the time, but she didn't say anything. When no one was around, she said to Old Zhou, "Don't always think about taking advantage. What if the children all follow your example in the future?"
"What's wrong with taking advantage?" Old Zhou said, "Taking advantage can help you survive."
"But it will definitely be hard. We don't lack food at home right now. We just have to follow the rules. The children will agree on what to do."
Qian turned around and called Zhou Dalang, asking him to take his younger brothers to the Bai family to buy wheat.
Zhou Erlang led the cow out and harnessed it to the cart, and went with Zhou Dalang and Zhou Sanlang, and of course they also took the money given by Qian.
Qian followed Manbao into her room and saw her putting things out of the bookcase onto the desk. She stepped forward to help and asked with a smile, "Have you finished your business with the young master of the Bai family?"
Manbao nodded and said softly, "Mom, we made a lot of money."
"Then keep it for yourself. You'll need a lot more money for your studies in the future." Qian didn't ask how much she earned. She said, "You're a capable child. Our family can only give you a limited amount, so you have to think carefully about it. If you have any problems, just tell me, okay?"
Manbao nodded.
Qian patted her little head and asked, "Why is your master so strict this time? He doesn't even give us a day off for the Dragon Boat Festival?"
Manbao sighed, "My friend said that it was because the teacher suddenly realized that I was a genius. If I didn't teach me carefully, the teacher might be sad."
Qian: ...My daughter is good in every way, except that she is so arrogant that she looks more and more like someone from the Zhou family.
(End of this chapter)
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