The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 53 - 42 Reconciliation

Zhuang knew he had learned from his previous teacher and Ms.

Liu, nodded with satisfaction, and allowed the two children to return to class.

For the first time, Manbao felt that there was a child more capable than herself.

Following beside him, she said, “You learn faster than I do.

I started studying at the age of one; I’ve just managed the Thousand Character Classic so far.”

Bai Shanbao then felt she was indeed slower, saying, “I started studying at age two and memorized the Thousand Character Classic in just three months.”

Of course, Bai Shanbao didn’t tell her that he had only memorized it, and did not recognize the characters.

It wasn’t until he was three that he started to learn to recognize and write characters using his textbooks.

Having a smart desk mate, Manbao, not wanting to be outdone, was especially attentive in class and enjoyed thinking actively, which led to many questions.

For instance, Mr.

Zhuang explained the meaning of the virtues of gentleness, uprightness, solemnity, thrift, and modesty.

So Manbao asked, what behaviors would qualify as gentle, upright, solemn, thrifty, and modest?

After pondering, she felt she met all five criteria, so was she now a sage?

Looking at his outspoken disciple, Mr.

Zhuang was about to speak when Bai Shanbao interjected, “Not to mention others, you don’t meet the standards of being upright, gentle, solemn, nor modest.”

Bai Shanbao continued, “You were biased in favor of your nephew yesterday, that’s not upright.

When you fought with me, you were neither gentle, solemn, nor modest—and biting me is even further from modesty.”

Manbao glared, “I can’t just let you bully my nephew and me.

I want to be a sage like Confucius, not a fool.”

Seeing the two children on the verge of another argument, Mr.

Zhuang knocked on the desk and said, “Are you two listening to the lesson or not?”

Bai Shanbao and Zhou Man sat up straight, placed their hands on their knees, and lifted their heads to attentively listen to Mr.

Zhuang’s lecture.

Only then did Mr.

Zhuang list some examples of how Confucius embodied gentleness, uprightness, solemnity, thrift, and modesty.

For a whole morning, they had only one lesson; Mr.

Zhuang asked them to recognize characters and recite silently, then he went to teach the university students seated to one side.

Although the system had watched this many times before, it still couldn’t help but marvel at the wisdom of the ancients.

In terms of educational resources, the ancient times were far behind the future.

Yet it was in this backward era that the breadth of knowledge of the teachers and their personalized teaching was unrivaled for many ages to come.

This was especially true later when the eight-legged essay became prevalent, unifying the educational system and leading to a monotonous education.

Of course, the system didn’t share these thoughts with Manbao, but just silently watched her boast to Bai Shanbao that she had already memorized the day’s lesson and remembered the meaning explained by the teacher.

Bai Shanbao hummed, “I memorized it a long time ago, and remembered it already.

I have memorized the entire chapter.”

Sensing Bai Shanbao’s pride, Manbao was full of fighting spirit, “I will surpass you in the future.”

She didn’t just say so; she acted upon it.

Manbao reopened her book that she had closed and started looking at the questions in the back.

Having already recognized many characters, she could read on her own.

Moreover, the book Mr.

Zhuang gave her to copy had already been punctuated, saving her from having to break the sentences herself, and she just read on, nodding and swaying her head.

The first read was very obscure, the second read less stumbling, and by the third read it became much smoother.

After going over it once more, Manbao could recite it haltingly.

Confident, she thought she had it memorized, so she flipped to the next section to continue reciting.

In a short while, Manbao had memorized three or four lessons.

Bai Shanbao was so surprised that he opened his mouth wide; no longer able to sneak off to play, he quickly opened the book and started reciting as well.

He couldn’t let her outdo him.

When the midday bell rang, the children rushed out, each grabbing their large bowls and lining up in the kitchen to get food.

Manbao, being younger with shorter legs, ended up towards the back, while Bai Shanbao, being new, was still not accustomed and took a moment to react as everyone else ran out.

It was Manbao, who had run to the door, who noticed something was wrong, turned back to find his large bowl, and pulled him along with her to the queue.

So the two youngest ended up being the last in line.

However, Manbao wasn’t the least bit worried; she even proudly told Bai Shanbao, “The one cooking and serving the food is my elder sister-in-law.

If you follow me, you’ll surely get more to eat.”

Initially, Bai Shanbao didn’t think there was anything to be proud of, but hearing Manbao say it and seeing her pride, he couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.

Indeed, when it was their turn, Junior Ms.

Qian smiled at them and served them a lot of food.

The students could return to the classroom to eat, but most didn’t like to go back.

They preferred to stand or sit in the courtyard to eat, with some even running across to the grassy area opposite the road to eat while playing.

Bai Shanbao squatted next to Manbao to eat his rice, finding the school’s meals quite delicious, as he ate with relish.

After lunch, the students could play around the school, of course, they were not allowed near the river.

Mr.

Zhuang would sit in front of the courtyard and keep watch every day; anyone who approached the river would not only be slapped on the hands, but also punished by having to recite and write.

Thus, though everyone was tempted by the nearby river, so far no student had been brazen enough to play there.

Manbao certainly wouldn’t go.

She ran back to fetch her box of insects, intending to practice bravery with Bai Shanbao.

She had decided that once the insects were no longer useful to her, she would give them to Keke.

Keke: …

Then Manbao and Shanbao ended up killing the dozen or so insects in their play.

Feeling somewhat apologetic, Manbao decided to take the insects home to feed the chickens, hoping they would lay more eggs.

She would then catch some more for Keke in the future.

That’s what Manbao was thinking, and that’s what she told Keke.

What else could the system do?

It could only agree.

It certainly couldn’t force Manbao to catch insects for it, right?

Thus, Shanbao and Manbao agreed to catch bugs together the next day.

Both children felt that they were no longer afraid of insects.

Since that was the case, of course, they were going to catch insects.

The most important fact was, having been thrown the insects, how could they not throw them back?

The pair seemed to have forgotten about their fight from yesterday, planning what they’d do tomorrow, casting veiled glances at Bai Erlang, who was delivering a grand speech in the classroom.

Bai Shanbao even tattled to Manbao, “He’s especially mean.

As soon as I arrived, he tried to take my rocking horse.

When I didn’t give it to him, he threw a tantrum on the ground.”

Manbao was curious, “What happened then?

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

Did your mother give it to him?”

“She didn’t,” Bai Shanbao said proudly with his little head tilted back, “My grandmother was going to give it to him, so I threw a tantrum too.

Then he got a spanking from my uncle, hmph!”