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The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 34 - 23 Agricultural Trade Market
34: Chapter 23 Agricultural Trade Market
34 -23 Agricultural Trade Market
Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang felt the carrying baskets on their backs were especially heavy.
Zhou Erlang was more clever and immediately took a small bamboo basket out of Wulang’s carrying basket, gritted his teeth, filled it with five eggs, and said, “Young man, it’s been a long time since we last visited the county city, and we honestly didn’t know the rules for entering the city had changed.
We farmers don’t have any cash; we only came to the city to make some because our elderly at home need medicine.
We hope you can be accommodating.”
The guard had never seen such a small bamboo basket before and looked at it curiously.
When he saw the eggs inside, he glanced around, took the basket, and said, “Alright, I’ll cover your entry fee.”
After saying this, he took a coin from his pocket, threw it into the plate, and gestured for them to enter.
Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang thanked him profusely, bent over pushing the cart hurriedly into the city, while Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang quickly followed with their baskets, dragging Daya and Erya with them.
Sitting in the basket, Manbao watched her family almost bend their backs to the ground and suddenly felt uncomfortable.
Keke sensed Manbao’s emotions and consoled her, “This guard isn’t too bad, don’t be sad.”
Manbao then asked, “Keke, do you have guards like this in the future?
Ones who are even worse?”
The system said, “Host, in the future, technological advancements allow people to enter and leave the city from both the ground and sky, which is very convenient.
Moreover, in the future, the population itself is an important resource, so there are no fees to enter the city.
If humans can move into the city, they’ll even receive various rewards.”
Manbao asked curiously, “What kind of rewards?”
“Housing, vehicles, settlement fees, job transfer allowances, and various preferential policies.”
Manbao couldn’t understand all of this yet, but she felt that not having to pay an entry fee was good.
If her family were in the future, then Big Brother and Second Brother wouldn’t have to bow to the guards.
Then Manbao pouted, “If he’s so different from people in your place, why do you still say he’s not bad?”
“He really isn’t bad; he’s just a guard and can’t make decisions.” The system had some insights; although it was a biology collection system, to better serve its host and improve their collection efficiency, its chip was loaded with plenty of knowledge and could even directly connect to the Encyclopedia.
Naturally, the knowledge in the Encyclopedia was at its disposal to peruse.
As for ardent cultures and history, there has been a continuous effort in recent years to restore it.
The system could, of course, see a lot in this area.
It wasn’t stingy with this information, since it had free time anyway, it might as well chat with its host.
So while Zhou Dalang pushed the cart to look for a spot in the market, Manbao listened to many stories about corrupt officials and tyrants.
She never connected these stories to their encounter just now, simply listening with interest and feeling indignant for the characters in the stories.
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After her indignation subsided, she had already forgotten about what occurred earlier.
Because she was so engrossed in listening to the stories, Manbao had forgotten to check out the bustling stalls on the street until the cart came to a stop and Zhou Dalang lifted her down, with Keke ceasing its storytelling – only then did she snap back to reality.
Curiously looking around, Manbao noticed that nearby were people selling vegetables, fruits, and various baskets and carrying baskets like theirs, and she thought that this was the farmers’ market Keke mentioned.
The four Zhou brothers busily unloaded the baskets, bamboo containers, and eggs, arranging them neatly at the spot they occupied.
Since they arrived late, they could only set up their stall at the most corner spot.
Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang, instructing Silang and Wulang to watch over the three children, said, “Sit quietly, Second Brother and I are going to sell the grain and will be back soon.”
And indeed, they were back soon.
While Manbao was curiously examining the items on the nearby stalls and squatting down to look whenever she saw something interesting, Dalang and Zhou Er returned, pushing the now-empty cart.
Manbao ran up to them, asking, “Big Brother, did you sell everything?”
Zhou Dalang patted her head and smiled, “Yes, I’m going to buy some medicine for mother and get you some paper for calligraphy practice.
You stay with Second Brother and don’t wander off, understand?”
Manbao nodded then added, “Big Brother, don’t buy paper for me.
Keep the money to pay back the village chief’s cousin.
Sanzhu’s wife needs money.”
Zhou Dalang frowned, “What happened, did Sanzhu’s wife come asking for money?”
Seeing that Manbao couldn’t explain it clearly, Erya quickly told their uncle about the event from the previous morning, “Little Aunt said we would return it after earning money today.”
Manbao nodded, “We must keep our word; that’s called being trustworthy.”
Zhou Dalang frowned but remained silent.
Zhou Erlang then said, “Big Brother, let’s listen to Manbao.
She’s still young, and it’s okay if she doesn’t practice calligraphy on paper for now.
Later, I’ll find a large slate for her in the mountains, and she can practice with chopsticks dipped in water.
Let’s buy paper when our family is better off next year.”
Zhou Dalang stroked Manbao’s head and sighed, “It’s just a pity for Manbao.”
Manbao was puzzled, “I don’t feel pitied.”
Zhou Dalang smiled and left to buy the medicine.
Zhou Erlang, noticing the younger kids eagerly gazing outside, chuckled and said, “Go play.
I can keep an eye on things here.
Wulang, make sure you watch the three little ones closely.
There are many bad people out there, and we don’t want them to get snatched away.”
Zhou Wulang agreed, took out their little baskets, and Daya and Erya immediately began to twine flowers around them.
This time they were smarter, making eight flower baskets at once, all ready to be held in their hands, reducing the worry of squashing the blooms.
Cheerfully carrying the beautiful flower baskets, they set off together to find their customers.
With one carrying the small bamboo baskets and another carrying a basket of flowers on their back, they set off happily.
Zhou Erlang crouched behind the stall, chuckling and shaking his head; he was waiting for them to come back as before – full on departure, full on return.
These little bamboo baskets were probably only for those who had money to burn.
Wulang, Liulang, Daya, and Erya, all with thin skins, held their flower baskets timidly, silently watching the passersby, not daring to say a word.
Manbao, however, carried her basket curiously examining the goods on the stalls, running up to look at anything attractive and enthusiastically asking questions.
Seeing that they hadn’t sold a single basket after covering almost half the street, Erya couldn’t help but approach and said quietly, “Little Aunt, remember we’re here to sell flower baskets.”
Only then did Manbao remember her task, smiling broad, “Thank goodness you reminded me.
I had completely forgotten, that chicken just now was so pretty.”
The flattered stall owner was pleased and said, “That chicken has been raised for over a year, the best kind of rooster for one’s health.
Little girl, would you like to buy one to try?”
Manbao asked, “How much is it?”
The stall owner replied, “Not expensive at all, twelve coins per pound; this rooster weighs five and a half pounds, so that’s sixty-six coins.”
Wulang and the others were terrified, hoping she wouldn’t agree to buy it, but while Manbao had been happily listening, as soon as the owner quoted the price, she drooped her shoulders and said, “That’s so expensive, I don’t have that much money.”