The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1008 - 987: Threat (Extra - for the reward from "Waiting for You to Grow Up")

Chapter 1008: Chapter 987: Threat (Extra Chapter for the reward from "Waiting for You to Grow Up")

Bai Shan saw everything and felt the timing was ripe, so he said to Manbao, "The holiday is in two days, shall we go to the polo grounds then?"

Manbao nodded. "Sure, and let’s invite Yin Huo too. I need to check his pulse, change his medicine, and give him acupuncture."

Bai Shan agreed, "Is it okay not to treat him at the pharmacy?"

"There’s no issue. Let’s have him meet us at Jishi Hall," Manbao replied. "The Mid-Autumn Festival is near, and the flower market is bustling. I’d like to gradually sell the flowers I have. We’ll probably be busy, so it’s best to get to the Polo grounds in the morning to settle this. In the afternoon, we’ll bag Zhang Jinghao."

"Do we still need to bag him?" asked Bai Shan. "Can’t the three of us handle him alone? Since he’ll definitely know it’s us who beat him, why bother with disguises?"

Manbao thought for a moment and nodded. "Right, disguises could complicate things if he decides to report us."

Bai Erlang was sitting aside, copying books, and upon hearing this, he looked up and asked, "Are we really planning to fight?"

Bai Shan replied irritably, "You’ve fought with us before. Why are you so timid now?"

Bai Erlang put down his pen and said, "Who am I considering? Isn’t it for you guys? Didn’t you and the teacher say to keep a low profile and avoid trouble?"

Bai Shan replied, "I checked. Hardly anyone from the Highest Institute knows him. Even Feng Zongping doesn’t know who Zhang Jinghao is. Obviously, his family background is ordinary, and his literary talent is mediocre, which is why he’s so unremarkable."

Manbao added, "I researched too. His dad is still studying. His grandfather was a fourth-rank comprehensive consultant but without real power. Don’t worry; nothing bad will happen if we beat him, and we’ll make sure to clarify the reason. He wouldn’t dare share this with his family."

She continued, "I heard their family is very strict."

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang looked at her curiously and asked, "How do you know so much?"

"I learned it from chatting with my patients." Manbao straightened her back and continued, "You might not know this, but since I cured Dou Zhu’er, a lot of female patients have been visiting my clinic lately. Among them are domestic helpers from notable families, and when I ask them about other families’ matters—nothing too private, of course—they’re pretty willing to share."

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang: "...So convenient. You learned all this just by sitting and treating them?"

Manbao nodded, feeling deeply. "Yes, no wonder Doctor Ji always reminds me that when I go treating in mansions, I must both listen and ignore, keep one eye open and one closed, and keep my mouth tightly shut. I shouldn’t ask what I shouldn’t, and even what I should ask needs careful consideration."

Bai Shan: "...So you knew all along. Then why don’t you listen?"

"Oh, this is just the clinic, not some noble’s mansion. It doesn’t need to be so strict," Manbao said. "And you wouldn’t believe how much they enjoy discussing these affairs. Originally, they come with worries but talking about these things cheers them up considerably. I think just talking here is enough to make their pulses healthier, no medication needed."

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang: ...

Ignoring Manbao, Bai Shan turned to Bai Erlang and said, "Weren’t you always puzzled about how he enticed you to gamble? This time we’ll clear it up face to face."

After many days, Bai Shan returned to the Highest Institute. This time he went to the cafeteria to meet Zhang Jinghao, who was surrounded by more people than before.

Bai Shan directly invited him to visit the polo grounds together the following day. He smiled and said, "We’d like to see that horse you mentioned last time to Bai Er. If it’s suitable, we’ll pay and buy it. Besides that horse, my Senior Sister and I also want to buy one for study purposes."

Zhang Jinghao looked around at his classmates who were eyeing him and was about to decline when his deskmate patted his shoulder and said, "Sure, we were just planning a trip for the holiday tomorrow. Hearing about the polo grounds sounds great. I heard they play polo there, and we can watch."

"Which polo grounds are we visiting?" another asked.

"What other?" someone replied sarcastically. "Obviously, it’s the Eastern Suburb Polo Grounds, the one Jinghao knows best."

Zhang Jinghao didn’t get the chance to intervene as Bai Shan promptly set the time, "Then let’s meet outside the Eastern Suburb Polo Grounds at 9 times tomorrow, Master Zhang. Don’t fail to show up, or else I’ll have to send someone to fetch you from your home."

Some classmates around Zhang Jinghao were confused, only realizing the implications after Bai Shan had left. They looked at the sullen Zhang Jinghao and asked, "Jinghao, was there a threat in his words? Isn’t he asking you for a favor?"

Those who were annoying Zhang Jinghao gradually grasped the situation, squinting at him, "Jinghao, you’ll go to the Eastern Suburb Polo Grounds tomorrow, right?"

"Of course," another laughed lightly. "Jinghao is a regular there, strong and healthy, why wouldn’t he go? If he doesn’t, Bai Shan might indeed send someone to fetch him."

Zhang Jinghao, with a stony face, didn’t utter a word and just stood up and left.

Not far away, classmates from Class A of the Highest Institute stared in shock before turning collectively to look at the low-headed Bai Erlang who was eating.

Ren Ke nudged him and said, "Stop eating. Your Senior Brother just threatened Zhang Jinghao."

Bai Erlang casually lifted his eyelids and responded, "I know."

He had known since the night before, entirely unsurprised.

Ren Ke looked puzzled. "Why?"

Bai Erlang sighed lightly, showing his still-bruised right hand, "Probably because of this hand."

Everyone looked at his hand and asked, "But wasn’t it your teacher who struck you?"

"Yes, but why would teacher hit me? Plus, he punished me by making me copy two ’Books of Rites.’"

"Right, why then? You haven’t told us," Qiao Tao said. "You’ve been silent all this time, won’t you tell us now?"

Bai Erlang sighed again, a sadness in his shake of the head, "Let’s leave it unsaid. I’m afraid you all might not be able to resist threatening him too."

Because after thinking it through, although he still couldn’t figure out how Zhang Jinghao had lured him into gambling, during their last visit, only he hadn’t lost any money while Ren Ke and Qiao Tao had.