Chapter 774 Intentional

Chapter 774: Intentional Chapter 774: Intentional Editor: Atlas Studios This was the second year since the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty, and weather conditions were favorable for crops everywhere.

Coupled with tax reduction, forest conversion, and other agricultural policies, the commoners everywhere had a chance to catch their breath.

In addition, Mu Yangling had opened grain stores all over the central, southern, and western regions.

With the availability of grain seeds and the planting manual issued by the Imperial Court, even if there were droughts and floods, there would not be no harvest.

When the new year arrived, everyone made arrangements to head to the market to exchange for New Year goods.

It was the same in the Qiannan area.

On New Year’s Eve, the citizens of the towns under Ju Prefecture carried their goods and swarmed into Ju Prefecture City to exchange for New Year’s goods.

As money was a rare commodity, only one-third of the Great Qi commoners used money in their purchase of goods.

The other two-thirds which were less well-off were accustomed to bartering instead.

As a result, some people might never get to see a copper coin in their lifetime, let alone silver.

Hence, when an ingot of silver was offered to him, Zhao Gen’er’s eyes widened in shock.

Seeing that he did not take the silver, Little Bear pouted and asked, “Are you selling the basket or not?” Zhao Gen’er hurriedly waved his hand in panic and said, “No, I’m not selling it for money.

No, how can this be considered money?” He picked up the small basket and stuffed it into Little Bear’s hand, then rubbed his hands in panic.

“This thing isn’t worth much money.

Just take it, take it.” Zhao Gen’er’s daughter hid behind her father and watched.

She whispered, “My father made this for me.” Zhao Gen’er tugged at his daughter and looked at the servant behind Little Bear in panic.

This was the first time he had entered the city, and it was also the first time he had seen such a noble young master.

He heard that if he angered a noble and was beaten to death, no one would care.

Little Bear hesitated for a moment and said regretfully, “So it’s a gift to you from your father and it’s not for sale.” If it were him, he wouldn’t sell a gift from his father.

Seeing Little Bear dejectedly put down the small basket, a manservant was about to step forward to speak when he was stopped by Zhuzi.

Being from a village, he knew that the little girl didn’t have to have the small basket.

If the manservant spoke up, it would ruin his master’s reputation, so he leaned close to Little Bear’s ear and said, “Your Highness, we can exchange things with her.” Little Bear’s eyes lit up.

“Exchange with what?” Eggy immediately pointed at the candied hawthorn hanging at the side and shouted, “Use that, use that.” Little Bear glared at him.

“Do you think everyone is a glutton like you?” Unexpectedly, the little girl was really drooling as she stared at the candied hawthorn.

Seeing this, the smart Little Bear waved his little hand.

“Buy!” Eggy immediately ran over happily and took out a fingernail-sized tael of silver from his small purse.

As he handed it to the vendor, he drooled.

“I’m buying a lot.” Little Bear also swallowed his saliva, but he felt that since he was the master, he should remain calm.

Hence, he only watched from the corner of his eyes and did not run forward.

That bit of silver could buy a lot of candied hawthorns.

Eggy first gave Little Bear two sticks, then distributed them one by one.

The little girl also received two skewers and even Zhao Gen’er was given a skewer.

Eggy said, “Since you ate our food, you have to give us the small basket in exchange.” Since she had a few baskets like this at home, the young lady didn’t care about the small basket at all and readily gave it to Little Bear.

She nibbled on the candied hawthorn until her face was covered in sugar crumbs.

Little Bear nibbled on a skewer.

Seeing that she kept the other skewer after finishing one, he said, “It won’t taste good if you keep it.” The little girl whispered, “I want to save it for my younger brother.” Little Bear tilted his head and asked in confusion, “Just buy it again if your brother wants to eat it.” The little girl widened her eyes and said, “Our family doesn’t have money.” Little Bear asked curiously, “Why don’t you have money?” In turn, the little girl asked matter-of-factly, “Why would I have money?” The two children stared at each other.

Anxious, Zhao Gen’er said in a low voice, “Little Master, we don’t have the ability to earn money, so we don’t have money.” Little Bear looked at him sympathetically and said, “So you’re a fool who doesn’t know how to earn money.” The little girl turned red and said angrily, “What right do you have to scold my father?” “I’m not scolding your father.” Little Bear was very confused because he felt that he was just stating the truth.

He said, “I wanted to give you money to buy your basket but you wouldn’t accept it.

But you were okay with exchanging it for candied hawthorn.

But bartering and buying are actually the same.

Money has a higher value than candied hawthorn.

You can buy candied hawthorn using money, but you might not necessarily be able to exchange candied hawthorn for money.

You’re so dumb.

You’re even dumber than Eggy.” Eggy nodded repeatedly at the side.

As he nibbled on the candied hawthorn, he said, “You’re dumber than me.” As Little Bear’s speech was quite lengthy, he didn’t articulate very clearly.

The little girl did not understand, and Zhao Gen’er was also a little confused.

However, Luo Zhan, who had been watching them, understood.

He looked at Little Bear, surprised that this child was so knowledgeable at only three years old.

It could be seen how wise his father was.

He lowered his eyes and thought for a moment before stepping forward with a smile.

“Young Master, commoners are ignorant and can’t understand what you mean.

Since they’re willing to exchange with you, just take it.” Little Bear looked at him with widened eyes, wanting to tell him that he didn’t understand what he had said earlier either.

But then he recalled what his father had told him not to reveal a weak aura in public.

Little Bear interpreted a strong aura as raising one’s head and puffing out one’s chest, so he straightened his chest and glared at Luo Zhan.

Thinking that he didn’t agree with him, Luo Zhan asked in surprise, “Young Master, do you have other opinions?” He glanced at Zhao Gen’er and said with a smile, “I’m afraid that even if you explain it, he might not understand.” Little Bear didn’t like his gaze.

Seeing that Zhao Gen’er’s face was red and lowering his head in shame, he said, “Since he doesn’t understand it, that’s all the more reason for me to teach him.

How can he understand if nobody teaches him?” His mother would explain patiently to him every time he encountered something he didn’t understand.

She’d even asked him to be more patient with Eggy, that if he failed to understand something, he ought to explain it a second, or even third time… Luo Zhan raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, “Since ordinary people can’t afford to go to school, who will teach them?” Little Bear didn’t know what to reply to that.

Zhuzi, who knew Little Bear’s standards, immediately went forward and whispered into his ear, “He’s talking about educating the common people…” Little Bear waved his small hand and interrupted Zhuzi domineeringly.

“Isn’t it the responsibility of the officials to educate the commoners?

Since they didn’t do their duty, they should be punished.” The smile on Luo Zhan’s face disappeared.

He looked at Little Bear meaningfully and said, “Young Master, you’re right.

It’s indeed the responsibility of all officials to educate the common people.

I’ve learned something.” With that, he turned around and left.

Zhuzi frowned as he watched him leave.

The captain of the guards behind Little Bear gave the people behind him a look, and two people quietly left the team to follow the person in front.

Little Bear scratched his head in confusion, not quite understanding what had just happened.

Just like his father, he never dwelled on things he couldn’t figure out, so Little Bear quickly forgot about the matter and turned around to say to the little girl, “I want to hunt in the mountains and I need a small basket for that.

Do you have other small baskets at home?

If you do, sell them to me.

I’ll give you money for that.

This way, your family will have money and you can buy as much candied haw as you want.” By now, Zhao Gen’er could tell that this young master was not as detestable as the villagers said.

He hesitated for a moment and said, “I do have baskets, but a basket doesn’t cost so much money.

Just give me a few copper coins.” He explained, “It doesn’t take much effort to weave a basket.

Besides, you’re asking for a small basket, so it requires little bamboo and is relatively easy to weave.

The bamboo was chopped from the mountain and doesn’t cost money.

But since what you want are all small baskets, it’ll take me two days to weave them.” Little Bear remembered that his mother had said that one had to give a deposit for the things they ordered, so he untied his pouch and poured out all the money inside.

He chose the smallest silver bean for him and said, “This is the deposit.

After you’re done weaving them, send them to my house.

I’ll pay the balance then.”

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