The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 303 - 292: Drinking Alcohol

Chapter 303: Chapter 292: Drinking Alcohol

Mr. Zhuang gathered up the textbooks and looked at the class of students itching to move, even Bai Shanbao and Manbao, who he usually took special care of, had gleaming eyes and hands poised at the sides of their closed books, clearly ready to bolt out as soon as he announced the end of the lesson.

Seeing this, Mr. Zhuang could not help but smile and asked languidly, "Have all your families started harvesting wheat?"

The children nodded, looking puzzled at Mr. Zhuang.

Mr. Zhuang then said, "The wheat harvest has begun, so has the summer harvest."

The students were confused, but Bai Shanbao’s eyes became even brighter, obviously thinking of something.

Mr. Zhuang nodded slightly towards him and said with a smile, "Let’s take a three-day holiday for this year’s summer harvest."

The students were taken aback, and once they confirmed that the teacher wasn’t joking, they burst into excited shouts, with Manbao clapping her hands in excitement.

Mr. Zhuang waited for their cheers to subside, then pressed down with his hand to quiet them before continuing, "During these three days, you should also help with work at home, and don’t just think about playing. The cultivation of mulberry trees and hemp is the foundation of the people, and in the future, whether you want to become officials or engage in farming and trade, all this will be useful to you. Besides, how can you enjoy what you do not toil for while the elders at home are working?"

The students all stood up, bent respectfully, and obediently replied in unison, "Yes," causing Manbao’s little head to nearly bump the table.

Mr. Zhuang stroked his beard with satisfaction and said, "Well, that’s it for today, you may all leave now."

"We bid farewell to the teacher!"

Mr. Zhuang looked down at Manbao and Bai Shanbao and said, "Come see me in the small courtyard in a while."

As soon as Mr. Zhuang stepped out of the classroom, the quiet room exploded with cheers and chatter as everyone hurriedly packed their things to go home.

Those quick to act were already stuffing their books into their boxes and rushing out the door.

Having just taken a few steps, Mr. Zhuang heard the noise behind him, chuckled, and shook his head as he walked back to the small courtyard.

Manbao and Bai Shanbao looked at each other before bowing their heads to pack up their books, their excitement entirely gone.

The teacher was bound to assign them extra homework.

Bai Shanbao invited Manbao in advance, "Do you want to come do homework at my house?"

Manbao thought for a moment; her family had gone to harvest wheat, and clearly, no one would take her up the mountain to look for China root, so she nodded, "Alright then."

Mr. Zhuang indeed had homework for them, and quite a lot of it. Manbao frowned as she took notes and asked, "Teacher, if we can’t do it, can we come to ask you?"

Mr. Zhuang thought about it and replied, "You may sit down for now. If you have questions, you can ask Old Master Bai. I’ll be going to the city for a while."

It was precisely because he was going to the city that he had granted a holiday for the summer harvest; in the past, he only gave holidays for the autumn harvest.

Manbao took note and asked curiously, "What are you going to the city for, Teacher?"

Mr. Zhuang just smiled and answered, "The imperial edict has arrived; taxes have been exempted in the entire Mianzhou region this year, so I am going to check on your Senior Brother and the others."

Manbao’s eyes lit up, "All the autumn taxes are exempted?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded with a smile, "In not too long, the Chief will probably also notify the village. With the autumn taxes exempted, most people should be able to get by this year. Everyone just needs to prepare the usual tributes."

Manbao nodded vigorously.

This was indeed exceptionally good news; Manbao didn’t even ask Mr. Zhuang where he got the information. Mr. Zhuang was not likely to deceive them.

Manbao joyfully ran home with her book box to tell her family the news first, then took her homework to find Bai Shanbao.

Unfortunately, only Ms. He was at home making dinner with Sanya and Datou; the rest were out working in the fields, so Manbao could only share her good news with her.

Even so, Ms. He was overjoyed and immediately told Sanya to go ask Ms. Qian, who was in the vegetable garden if they should cook some eggs to celebrate that evening.

When Old Zhou came home for dinner leading a line of the younger children, he laughed heartily upon hearing the good news, then told Zhou Dalang to fetch the jar of wine that Zhou Silang had hidden away during the wedding celebrations in May, deciding to have a drink that night.

Only when Zhou Dalang emerged from the storeroom with a jar of wine did the women of the house realize that the father and sons had been secretly stashing away liquor.

Old Zhou chuckled, turning to find Ms. Qian staring at him, his body stiffened involuntarily, suddenly feeling guilty.

Given the rare good news, Ms. Qian merely snorted and did not immediately settle the score with him.

Old Zhou stroked the back of his neck with a sigh, but then thought, so be it, let’s just enjoy tonight.

Manbao had always been curious about wine because not only did her father enjoy it, her brothers from the Eldest to Fifth Brother also liked it, and she was interested in anything tasty.

Seated in her spot, Manbao began eyeing her brothers as they drank, and after finishing her meal, with her sisters-in-law also done eating, she immediately took her bowl and sat between Zhou Silang and Zhou Wulang, pretending she still wanted food but sneakily watching their bowls of wine.

They could not afford to drink very fine liquor; it was bought from a vendor in the county town, supposedly brewed from rice – a luxury indeed.

At a wedding feast, aside from the meat, the second biggest expense was liquor.

And that was with them only providing half a jar per table, had there been free flow, who knows how much it would cost.

Manbao found white rice delicious, as well as porridge, so wine made from rice...

Manbao glanced left and right sneakily, and while Zhou Wulang turned his head to talk with Datou, she stealthily pulled his bowl towards her, sniffed it, found it fragrant, and then took a sip...

It was bitter and astringent, with a spicy sensation that exploded on her taste buds all at once, causing Manbao to immediately spit it out and then cough violently.

Old Zhou happened to see her sneaking a drink, his mouth agape, his eyes wide with shock.

Zhou Wulang immediately snatched back his bowl of wine and glared at her, "How dare you try alcohol at your age?"

Manbao stuck her tongue out like a wronged puppy, tears welling as she turned to find her eldest sister-in-law.

Junior Ms. Qian, both annoyed and amused, poured water for Manbao to rinse her mouth while patting her little bottom, "Even your Sixth Brother isn’t allowed to drink at his age, how could you be so daring?"

Old Zhou had already closed his mouth, his eyes back to normal, and he beckoned Manbao over, smiling as he pulled her close, "If you want to drink, just tell Daddy. Here, drink with Daddy."

Since her father had spoken, Junior Ms. Qian could not interrupt, but Ms. Qian gave him a sharp look and said, "You’re tipsy after just half a bowl?"

Old Zhou immediately shrank his neck and grinned sheepishly at Manbao, patting her head as he said, "Alright, go play. Wait until you’re at least as big as your Sixth Brother before you drink again."

But Manbao protested, "I won’t drink again; it’s truly too disgusting."

Old Zhou burst into laughter, as did the Zhou brothers, all raising their bowls to take a sip, chuckling, "What’s disgusting about it? It tastes so good."