The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 2065 - 2040: The Plan

Manbao lifted the curtain and crawled out with a bewildered expression. She silently exchanged a glance with Bai Shan and the others before remembering that she hadn’t taken a day off yet, meaning she still had to go to class today.

Manbao climbed down from the Yin Family’s carriage and got onto the palace carriage, then turned her head to look at Bai Shan who was separated from her by a carriage.

Bai Shan felt regretful yet amused, and could only stifle his laughter and say, "Rest assured, I’ll have someone send you food from Primus Pavilion at noon."

Manbao felt slightly relieved, "Remember to order a dish of large meatballs for me; I want to eat large meatballs."

Bai Shan agreed with a smile, "I’ll also order you a dish of sweet and sour fish."

Only then did the slight sadness in Manbao’s heart dissipate, as they were all her favorite foods.

Eunuch Rong Si glanced at the time and realized they would be late if they didn’t leave, so he snapped the whip and the carriage sped off.

As soon as Manbao jumped off the carriage, she saw Doctor Xiao and the others leisurely standing at the entrance with their hands tucked inside their sleeves. Seeing Manbao, they smiled and congratulated her, "I heard Young Master Bai was successful."

Manbao was surprised, "How did you know?"

She had personally gone to see the list and only just found out.

Doctor Xiao gleefully pointed to the Xiaos beside him, "They went early to check, and as soon as the list was announced, they returned. Even if they were fast, Imperial Doctor Zhou was still taking the carriage, so why are you only just finding out now?"

No wonder she felt there were so many people squeezing in to see the red list, and so many people rushing around on the road when she came out; it turns out it was all these people.

Manbao carried her medicine box inside, saying, "There were too many people on the road, and it got blocked."

Doctor Xiao and the others happily expressed that a bit of congestion was good, "After today, Young Master Bai will surely be known to the world."

He then asked, "Will the Bai Family be hosting a banquet? Don’t forget to invite us when the time comes."

Manbao began to ponder, "This matter is indeed important; I need to ask Grandma Liu about it when I go back."

Old Madam Liu was truly delighted, so much so that she walked around the room three times before pulling her daughter-in-law to the ancestral tablets to offer prayers.

But after the excitement, she quickly calmed down, and once Bai Shan returned, she called him over, invited Mr. Zhuang, and asked Bai Shan in front of Mr. Zhuang, "What are your plans? You’ve passed the Jinshi exam, next comes the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Personnel exams, then lining up to await an official position. Your ranking is not low; if you enter officialdom, even if you’re not assigned elsewhere, you can receive an official post in the capital, starting small."

Bai Shan thought for a moment and said, "Grandma, I’m still young; entering officialdom now feels too early. To be honest, my policy essay this time wasn’t well written; I’m still confused about whether I passed truly because the essay was good, or due to my previous reputation and writings."

If it’s the latter, he feels guilty; if the former, he feels pained.

It pains him to think that the current cohort of examinees might be that weak?

But regardless of the reason, he knows his own abilities, and he’s still some distance from being ready for official duties. Even passing the Ministry of Rites exam, the Ministry of Personnel won’t be easy.

He doesn’t want to be the "phoenix tail," so wishes to study further for a few years.

"Grandma, I want to go on a study tour."

Old Madam Liu had been mentally preparing for this; hearing it, she sighed and asked, "Where do you want to study?"

Bai Shan didn’t speak immediately, just looked at Mr. Zhuang.

Old Madam Liu glanced at Mr. Zhuang too, then said, "Manbao is still in the Imperial Hospital; will she be going with you?"

Bai Shan nodded.

"Then what about her official position? Not to mention her current land allocation, will His Majesty allow her to go?"

Resigning an office isn’t as simple as declaring it. If you attempt to resign three times and the emperor doesn’t approve, what then?

Leave outright?

It’s not impossible, but the emperor will surely be upset, and if Manbao wishes to return to officialdom later, there will undoubtedly be complications.

Bai Shan said, "It’s already winter; even if we go on a study tour, it will be next year. We’ll discuss it then."

Mr. Zhuang said, "Since you wish to resign and go on a study tour, planning should begin now. Even if you can’t formally resign, there should be indirect indications to prepare others psychologically. Also, you want to go to Gaochang, so some travel preparations are needed." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Old Madam Liu couldn’t help but exclaim, "Gaochang?"

She quickly turned to look at Bai Shan, her eyes wide, "You’re going to Gaochang?"

Bai Shan nodded with determination, "Grandma, we want to experience the customs of the Western Regions."

Old Madam Liu frowned deeply, "The Central Plains, Jiangnan, even Jiannan and Lingnan areas are fine. Great Jin’s territory is vast, why go to Gaochang? They only had a war there a few years ago."

Bai Shan said, "Grandma, the imperial control over the grasslands and Western Regions isn’t strong; we want to see them for ourselves. When I eventually enter officialdom, these issues will surely come into play."

"It’s too dangerous."

Bai Shan laughed, "Even in the Central Plains, we can’t avoid mountain bandits. Drinking water carries the risk of choking; where isn’t dangerous? Rest assured, we’ll bring plenty of people, and with Manbao the miracle doctor by our side, we’ll be fine."

Mr. Zhuang nodded too, stroking his beard with a smile, "Rest easy, Madam; if this old man can follow, surely these youngsters will be fine."

Old Madam Liu: "... Mr. Zhuang is going too?"

"Naturally. Since it’s the disciples’ study tour, it’s only right for me as the teacher to accompany them." Moreover, as for the Western Regions, in his youth he had wanted to visit, but family obligations and financial constraints prevented him; he hadn’t visited the grasslands, let alone the Western Regions.

Seeing the excitement beneath Mr. Zhuang’s serious expression, Old Madam Liu was speechless for a long time.

But she was indeed somewhat relieved at heart; having Mr. Zhuang accompany them seemed more reliable... right?

Old Madam Liu resigned to the situation, though she started worrying about other things, "If Manbao resigns, why are they still planting wheat this year?"

Bai Shan said, "Even if the land isn’t hers anymore, the tenant farmers must continue their lives. We can’t let her resignation cause them to miss a season of planting. Besides, this year’s wheat seeds don’t need us to provide; the farmers kept seeds themselves."

The young chickens and so forth are now self-sufficient too. From the beginning of the year, the investment in Pu Village’s land was mainly farm implements and oxen, as seeds were saved from the previous year’s good crops.

It’s a pity we’ve calculated the expenses; the expenditures of the past two years were too high, and including this year, we’ve only broken even.

Breaking even means these three years were labor without profit.

Well, not entirely; the tenant farmers have prospered, offering psychological satisfaction... if that’s considered a gain.

Bai Shan passed the Jinshi exam, and Manbao was secretly thinking about resigning.

Therefore, when Manbao went to check Princess Consort’s pulse for wellness today, she was sitting on a chair gnawing on a roasted yam while the little prince sat on a wooden couch watching her as he ate the complementary food the palace maid was feeding him.