The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 2372: Chapter 2347: Discovered

Beside them, Zhao Liulang said, "Stop wondering, I know why. It’s because you are rich. Everyone knows the spices, gems, and jade your niece has been selling in the capital recently were brought back from the Western Regions by you guys."

Bai Shan said, "Didn’t you also take a share?"

Zhao Liulang replied, "How much did I get? And the amount of spices I could sell was just a tiny bit."

Manbao said, "Hey, with the money you gave us, we bought you quite a lot of tourmalines and crystals, and also spices and pearls."

Zhao Liulang sighed, "Don’t mention it. As soon as I got home, I quietly gave some to my wife and mom. By the next day, all my sisters-in-law knew about it. They all asked for some, and I couldn’t say no. In the end, even the pearls were kept by my wife, saying she needed them to make hairpins for my daughter."

Zhao Liulang held up two fingers, "My daughter is only two years old, and her hair is just that long. Not to mention wearing hairpins, she can’t even tie it up!"

Everyone burst out laughing.

But even if he could only sell a little spice, Zhao Liulang quickly made a return on his investment and saved some private money. That’s why he’s been so generous lately. Although he might lose twenty taels of silver this time, he just felt a bit of heartache before waving it off generously, "Forget it, no point in worrying. Do you want to join me over there? Many of our classmates are over there. It’s a pity Feng Zongping and the others aren’t here; otherwise, we’d have the whole group."

Manbao politely declined, "We’re taking them to the horse race."

Zhao Liulang clicked his tongue, "You’re really competing, huh?"

Manbao nodded, "Of course."

Zhao Liulang glanced at their ten maidservants, each looking quite pretty. While not stunning, they were considered decent-looking among the maid ranks. The most notable thing was their Western features, like high noses, deep-set eyes, and some even had blue eyes like a pool of water, remarkably striking at first glance.

If these ten showed up together on the racetrack, the attention they’d draw would be incredible.

But Manbao didn’t plan to let them all go on at once. Instead, the ten were split into five pairs to register, with only two participating in each race.

There were three kinds of people participating in the horse races. The first were professional racers, including many women who took up this occupation.

As long as they were paid, they could participate in horse races. The ladies and wives watching occasionally placed bets. The racetrack’s payment, the guests’ tips, and occasionally being hired by ladies to settle competitions added to their earnings.

Although such opportunities were rare.

Then there were the guests themselves organizing races, finding their own people to compete. These races were typically among people of the same class, and if someone not of their class was involved, they were either bullying or being bullied.

Lastly, there were people like Zhou Man, who didn’t race themselves but let their subordinates compete instead.

Despite being behind closed doors, many liked to have their maids learn riding skills, and competing at the racetrack was one way to test those skills.

This time, there was another competition organized by the racetrack. It wasn’t for money but as a show of skills and talents, with many signing up to race.

Some young ladies were interested and went on themselves. However, they could accept racing against commoners but not against maids. The racetrack was careful with the lineup, so after the last race, as Lady Liu came riding in with flair, just as Xi Bing and Xi Hua took their numbers to queue up.

Lady Liu was going to rest in the back when she caught sight of familiar faces outside the fence, and she was surprised. She rode up, calling out, "Fifth Brother, it is you!"

Liu Huan saw her and was startled, immediately pulling up his sleeve to cover his face, calling out, "You’ve got the wrong person; I’m second in my family."

Lady Liu huffed, flicking her small whip while still on horseback, "If you’re second, where do my brothers rank? How dare you deny it? I’ll tell Grandpa and Grandma when I get back."

Then she felt something was off, "Wait a minute. Weren’t you locked in the study by Grandpa to read and not allowed out before the exams? How did you get to the racing ground?"

Seeing Lady Liu’s companions looking over curiously, some even riding their horses over, Manbao said to Liu Huan, "You’d better admit it. More people are coming over."

Bai Shan said, "You can’t hide it unless you can vanish into thin air."

Bai Erlang and Yin Huo also chimed in, "You may as well confess."

With his little buddies cornering him like this, Liu Huan couldn’t deny it any longer. He dropped his sleeve in annoyance, "Fine, it’s me! What can you do?"

Lady Liu: ...

Manbao tried to bribe her with flowers, "Lady Liu, how about I give you two peonies? Multicolored ones."

Lady Liu hesitated and asked, "Do you have peonies blooming at your house now?"

Manbao said, "If you want them, I’ll have someone send two over tonight. No more than that, but two is fine."

Remembering the flower branches Zhou Man sold a couple of years ago, Lady Liu nodded. If she could wear peonies for the Lantern Festival parade, even if they weren’t the only ones in the capital, they’d surely be rare.

So after giving Liu Huan a glare, she turned her horse to find her companions but quickly returned to stand beside Liu Huan to watch the race.

Liu Huan looked at her, "What are you doing here? Why not accompany your friends?"

Lady Liu said, "They don’t need me to keep them company. I have to watch you so you don’t cause trouble, otherwise, when we get back, I’ll also get into hot water."

Liu Huan: "... Am I such a troublemaker?"

"You are," Lady Liu said disdainfully. "Do you know why, even after becoming the Viscount of Xian County, very few women are willing to marry you?"

Liu Huan’s heart was pricked, but he still asked, "Why?"

"Because in the eyes of your future in-laws, you don’t have prospects."

Liu Huan: ...

Lady Liu continued, "Fifth Brother, I’m already engaged. You’re older than me and still not engaged."

Liu Huan said, "I’m the youngest among our male relatives. Grandma said I’m a late bloomer, so what’s wrong with marrying a bit later?"

Lady Liu gave him a condescending look, then turned away to watch the races.

Liu Huan was furious and couldn’t help but turn to Bai Erlang to openly speak ill of her, "She’s incredibly annoying."

Bai Erlang nodded, also finding her very annoying.

Lady Liu saw this, exhaled through her nose in anger, wanted to complain to Manbao, but saw her attentively watching the race. She opened her mouth, then turned to talk to Liru instead, "Isn’t my cousin incredibly annoying when he hangs out with you all?"

Liu Huan turned his head to stare at her, as if ready to bite her if she dared to agree. Zhou Liru hesitated and politely said, "He’s okay?"

Lady Liu automatically concluded, "That means he’s annoying."

Liu Huan stared at them with wide eyes, Zhou Liru said promptly, "That’s her opinion, not mine."

Lady Liu turned to glare at Liu Huan, "You’re threatening people."