Chapter 72 - 72 61 Bickering

Words : 1422 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

72: Chapter 61 Bickering 72: Chapter 61 Bickering Bai Shanbao hadn’t noticed anything wrong and was just happily saying to her, “My grandmother agreed to let you come to my house to read. What book do you want to read?” “I’m not sure, I’ll see what books your family has first,” Manbao thought for a moment, “Do you have any books specifically on the preparation of herbal medicines?” “You want to prepare herbal medicines?” Bai Shanbao said, “Just go to the drugstore to buy medicine.” “Where does the drugstore’s medicine come from?” Bai Shanbao looked at her innocently, how would he know where it came from? Manbao said seriously, “I sell it to them. As long as I learn how to prepare the medicines, I can sell them to the drugstores.” Bai Shanbao became curious and exclaimed, “So your family grows medicinal herbs?” This time, Manbao was the one who was surprised, “So medicinal herbs can be grown as well.” The two children looked at each other, speechless for a long while. In the end, they took their question to their teacher. Mr. Zhuang didn’t know why they had started asking about medicinal herbs, but he still resolved their doubts, “Some medicinal herbs can be cultivated, while most are wild.” Mr. Zhuang said, “Many medicinal herbs are found in the wild, and there are people who collect and deliver them to drugstores. These people are called herbalists, and many countryside doctors also engage in this business.” Mr. Zhuang promptly took the two children behind the school and pointed at a clump of wild grass on the ground, “Look, this is a medicinal herb.” Bai Shanbao didn’t recognize it, but Manbao did. She said excitedly, “This is Indian pennywort, also called common liverwort!” She had picked it when she was very small and given it to Keke, so it was recorded in the system. Mr. Zhuang then nodded with a smile, “Both of those names aren’t wrong, but in the medical books, it’s called ground pennywort. Its properties are cold, and its flavors are bitter and pungent. It enters the liver, spleen, and kidney meridians and can treat heatstroke, diarrhea, damp-heat jaundice, and injuries from falls and blows. You can also pluck and dry it in your spare time to take to the drugstore.” Mr. Zhuang smiled and said, “Every summer, Jishi Hall burns a large barrel of ground pennywort water and places it at the entrance of the drugstore for passersby and merchants to relieve heat and detoxify.” Manbao was now very interested in making money because the fish and meat provided by the Bai Family was going to be finished today. She had told her mother that they would slaughter the big rooster tomorrow. But her mother disagreed, saying that if they slaughtered the rooster, the hens wouldn’t be able to hatch chicks. With no other choice, Manbao had already decided to buy another chicken. So she squatted down with particular interest to look at the Indian pennywort. In fact, she was familiar with this herb, which could be found behind her house, along the ridges and at the edges of fields. It was precisely because it was ubiquitous that she had picked some a long time ago and entered it into Keke’s system. Manbao, full of enthusiasm, asked the teacher, “Teacher, how much does the drugstore pay for a pound of this herb?” Mr. Zhuang was stumped; he really didn’t know. All he remembered was that when he was very young, the brother from the house next door would always go and pluck it, dry it, and then take it to the drugstore to sell, bag by bag. Mr. Zhuang pondered, “Next time I go to the city, I can ask for you.” Manbao became happy and whispered conspiratorially to Bai Shanbao, “After class, let’s come pluck Indian pennywort.” Bai Shanbao shook his head, “I don’t need to make money.” Manbao then asked, “Do you have money then?” Bai Shanbao proudly said, “No! But my mother does.” “That’s shameful, always asking your mother for money when you need to spend. Since I understood things, I haven’t asked my parents for money. I have my own money.” Bai Shanbao originally didn’t think there was anything wrong with asking his mother for money. After all, his mother had said that all the money at home was his. Since it was all his, of course, he could spend it whenever he wanted. But Manbao didn’t see it that way. She told him, “Only the money you earn yourself is truly yours. Using someone else’s money, even if it’s given to you, the person can take it back at any time, and you’ll feel uneasy.” Manbao even wracked her brain to give him examples, “Like my fourth brother, although the money at home is used collectively, it’s not just his. So when he previously lost money gambling, the family paid off his debts, but since it wasn’t money he earned himself, wasting the family’s money would make him subject to anger and disdain.” Manbao said, “You don’t have your own money. If you spend too much in the future, your mother will also disdain you.” Bai Shanbao didn’t believe it, “That won’t happen, my mother said that all the money in my family is for me.” Keke had even declared her the smartest person. This conclusion was drawn from her long observations, how could it be wrong? So she hummed, “Don’t believe me? Go back and ask your mother, tell her to give you all the money right now, see if she’s willing.” Bai Shanbao said, “My mother will surely agree.” Manbao, “She definitely won’t agree!” “Will so!” “Won’t!” Bai Shanbao glared at her angrily, and Manbao glared back defiantly. Mr. Zhuang, who had been completely ignored on the side: ... Just as he was about to say something, Bai Shanbao suddenly huffed loudly, turned away, and even turned his back, “I’m not going to be friends with you anymore. I won’t take you home after school to read.” “Then don’t take me, “Manbao replied in anger with her hands on her hips, “From now on, you’re not allowed to come to my house either.” So, each with a huff, the two young friends turned around and headed back to the classroom, keeping a distance of eight zhang from each other. Mr. Zhuang, left behind: ... Watching the backs of the two indignant disciples, he shook his head and chuckled twice, finding infinite amusement in the situation. Deciding not to mediate, he leisurely returned to the classroom with his hands behind his back. Manbao and Bai Shanbao did indeed “break off their friendship,” neither speaking to the other throughout the class. However, their voices while reading climbed over each other’s, as in a competition. When answering questions during class, they would race to respond, glaring at each other whenever one failed to outpace the other. Mr. Zhuang watched them with a child-like demeanor, struggling to contain his laughter. After school, the two no longer ran out together but took their respective books and left. Datou was still squatting outside waiting to pick up his little aunt. Seeing her coming out, he was especially eager to greet her, “Little Aunt, aren’t we going to Young Master Bai’s house?” “No, I’m not friends with him anymore.” “Ah?” Datou immediately asked, “Did he bully you?” Manbao huffed, “Could he even bully me? He’s so dumb, he didn’t even believe my conclusion. I’m the smartest person within a thousand miles.” Datou realized then that they had quarreled, not fought, which was a relief. No longer worried, Datou nodded and echoed, “Yes, Little Aunt is the smartest.” Though this response was just placatory consolation, Manbao failed to notice and took Datou’s words at face value, nodding her head in agreement. Bai Shanbao lost interest in playing too, returning home in a huff. Ms.Liu and Ms.Zheng hadn’t expected the child to come home so early from school today. He usually played outside for more than half an hour, only coming back when it was nearly dark. Ms.Liu looked outside and didn’t see the little girl, so she asked with a smile, “Shanbao, didn’t you say your friend was coming over to read today? Why didn’t she come?”

Chapter 72 - 72 61 Bickering

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