The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 2358: Chapter 2333: Experience

He glanced at Bai Shan inside the window and quietly spoke to his daughter, "Are you foolish? Even if they are from such a family, or ours, when you marry a wife, she must manage household chores and honor the in-laws, and also work in the fields outside. Of course, the Bai Family doesn’t lack people for fieldwork, nor do they lack money, so you don’t have to work in the fields, but you have to manage the household, right?"

"You’re working as an official outside, just look at now, busy every day. How can you have time to manage household chores?" Old Zhou whispered, "But your great-grandmother and grandmother are here. Now that we live together, Liu Old Madam commands all the house affairs. If you continue living here after you get married, you can hand over all the affairs of the mansion to them."

"If you move outside, and your great-grandmother and grandmother want you to manage the household, will you do it or not? What if they bully you?"

Manbao said, "Liu Old Madam and Auntie Zheng wouldn’t bully me."

Old Zhou replied, "That’s not necessarily true. It’s different being a daughter-in-law before and after."

Manbao was curious, "Why is that?"

Old Zhou thought hard, shook his head, "I don’t know either. Your grandmother was like that. Before your mother married me, she constantly praised your mother as if she were a fairy. But once she entered the house, your grandmother didn’t like her from any angle."

Manbao tried hard to recall the gossips her uncles and aunties said under the big banyan tree at the village entrance, and quietly said, "Liu Old Madam and Auntie Zheng wouldn’t be like that. They are good people."

Old Zhou said, "Your grandmother is also a good person."

Manbao didn’t believe it. Though her mother never spoke ill of her grandmother, the elderly in the village often talked about it. So she curiously asked, "Dad, how did grandma praise my mom before?"

"She praised a lot," Old Zhou said, "Said your mom was diligent, capable, had many brothers at home, impressive, praised in many ways."

"Look at you now, Liu Old Madam often praises you for being capable, diligent, smart, doesn’t she?" Old Zhou whispered, "But after you get married, they might change their tune just like your grandma did."

Manbao looked skeptical.

Old Zhou shook his head and said, "Why don’t you listen to the elders? I’ve seen many people like this."

Manbao replied, "My mom is also a mother-in-law, she wouldn’t be like that."

Old Zhou gave her a glance, "Daughter, you’re too naive, who says your mom hasn’t changed? She changes in subtle ways, like with your sisters-in-law..."

"What are you talking about?"

Old Zhou immediately stopped talking, his back stiffening. He turned his head to see Ms. Qian frowning at the father and daughter duo. He immediately stood up, patted his backside, and said, "Nothing, nothing."

Manbao said, "Mom, Dad said you..."

Old Zhou covered her mouth and dragged her up to push her inside the room, "Aren’t you going to study with Bai Shan? Go study quickly."

Ms. Qian glanced at him and nodded to Manbao, "Go study."

Then she frowned at Old Zhou, "Aren’t you going to the kitchen? Why aren’t you going?"

Old Zhou walked out with her.

After leaving the courtyard, Ms. Qian couldn’t help but say to him, "What nonsense were you talking with Manbao?"

"How is it nonsense?" Old Zhou said defiantly, "Am I not speaking the truth? You women see someone as better and better before marrying a daughter-in-law, but after marriage, you see them as worse and worse. I’m just worried our daughter will suffer."

Old Zhou sniffed, his nose a bit stuffy, "Look at Xi’er, how much she suffered before? Manbao shouldn’t endure such grievances."

Ms. Qian: "... You’re overthinking. The Bai Family has lived in the village for so many years, don’t you know what kind of family they are?"

She said, "Stop speaking ill of Bai Shan and the Bai Family in front of Manbao. If it spreads and causes misunderstandings with the Bai Family, I’ll deal with you."

Old Zhou didn’t speak further.

Bai Shan was also asking Manbao, "What did Uncle Zhou say to you, talking for so long?"

Manbao sighed, "My dad told me people can be unpredictable, some might change inside and outside."

Bai Shan: "... Did Uncle Zhou get swindled? Why did he suddenly have such an insight?"

Manbao waved her hand, "Those were things from his younger days. Did you finish the confession draft?"

Bai Shan showed her, "Almost done."

Manbao read through it and was satisfied, "Hurry up and write, when you’re done I’ll copy it."

Bai Shan: "... This is mine."

"Oh come on, I’m the chief officer. I just need to submit one fold, at most you can just sign it, we don’t need everyone to write one, right?"

Bai Shan thought it made sense, then looked at the draft, not really wanting to continue, "Will you fill in the rest?"

"You’ve written this much, might as well finish it for me," Manbao said, "so I don’t take over mid-way and the wording becomes inconsistent."

Bai Shan gazed steadily at her for a moment, but had to continue writing.

After he finalized the draft and revised it once, Manbao took over to copy it.

While Bai Shan was organizing the desk, he said, "Tomorrow we’re visiting Senior Brother Tang, what gift should we prepare for Lord Tang?"

"Something local from the Western Regions," Manbao said, "A box of spices."

Bai Shan couldn’t help but chuckle, then said, "Okay, but I wonder if Lord Tang would accept it, since it’s quite valuable and might be seen as bribery."

Manbao whispered, "We’re originally going to bribe anyway."

Indeed, Manbao and the others went to bribe. Lord Tang is in charge of the Censorate, his attitude is crucial. Even if he doesn’t forbid the subordinates from impeaching, as long as he doesn’t speak up or take action, Manbao and their room for maneuver would be great.

Lord Tang, unaware of their intentions, felt their families had a good relationship, and regarded it as a usual annual gift, so he accepted it without opening.

After all, they didn’t just send a box of spices, there were other annual gifts prepared by Liu Old Madam and Ms. Qian. There were two visible lamb legs, and not to mention, Manbao sent her sister-in-law’s pickled vegetables, a full six small jars of assorted pickles. It’s said the Tang Family loves them, so Manbao had her mom prepare a bit more.

Lord Tang didn’t notice, but Lord Tang did, because what was sent to him was a separate small box, which he directly opened.

Seeing the spices inside, Lord Tang was astonished, "Is this styrax? Smells really good. Did you buy it from the Western Regions?"

In front of him, there was nothing to hide, Manbao proudly said, "We seized it from the bandits."

Lord Tang truly didn’t know about this, surprised beyond measure, "You even went to suppress bandits? With just Assistant General Nie and his hundred men?"

The prairie bandits are known to be fierce, right?

Could they be suppressed so easily?

"No, it was Liangzhou’s governor who sent troops, we just assisted," Manbao asked, "Wasn’t there a military report sent to the capital?"

Lord Tang said, "I’m the county magistrate of Chang’an County, not working in the Ministry of Personnel or Justice, how would I know this news? But my father should know, I can ask him later. You all suppressed bandits, that’s considered a meritorious deed, isn’t it?"