Chapter 29 Knowing Contentment Brings Happiness
Shi Daye lightly coughed and cupped his fists at Zhou Da Lang, just about to speak. Suddenly his eyes locked onto the big rooster in Zhou Si Lang’s arms.
His eyes lit up as he pounced over, stroking the rooster’s slick feathers as if seeing a lover, “Is this the big rooster you spoke of?”
The Zhou family was frightened by Shi Daye. Even Zhou Da Lang was momentarily speechless.
But Man Bao wasn’t stunned. She followed Shi Daye and rushed over, standing by her fourth elder brother. She also reached out to stroke the rooster’s feathers, proudly asking, “Well, isn’t my family’s big rooster great?”
“Good, very good!” Shi Daye stroked it again and again, asking, “How much are you selling it for?”
Man Bao was stunned, scratching her head. She hadn’t considered this since she felt they liked the big rooster so much, they should be able to sell it for a good price.
Most importantly, finding him a nice big rooster might make him willing to sell her the balding rooster cheaper.
Man Bao’s gaze couldn’t help glancing at that balding rooster again.
Shi Daye followed her gaze and laughed, “Do you want my rooster?”
Man Bao nodded.
“What for?”
“To stew soup,” Man Bao craned her little neck looking at Shi Daye. “Rooster is very nutritious. My mother wants to eat rooster.”
“This rooster can only be stewed now, but…” Shi Daye was puzzled, “Doesn’t your family raise roosters?”
“It has to be eaten everyday. This big rooster is more expensive than yours. After buying this one, I can still buy a second one!”
Shi Daye couldn’t help laughing, “Not bad, very smart. Alright, I’ll buy this big rooster.”
Shi Daye almost couldn’t wait to take the rooster from Zhou Si Lang’s arms. After stroking it, he put it on the ground and shooed it to walk twice. Seeing it still energetic and robust, he was even more satisfied.
He felt around his pocket and took out a small broken silver piece, tossing it to Man Bao, “Here, I bought this rooster. The other rooster is my gift to you.”
Man Bao pinched the silver, asking, “How heavy is this?”
Shi Daye felt a little guilty, but kept a steady and proud face. “At least three to five coins. You can weigh it when you get home.”
Man Bao felt the silver was unreliable, “Don’t you have any copper coins?”
“Who brings a bunch of copper coins when going out to gamble? Isn’t it very heavy?” Shi Daye said, “Do you want it or not? If not I won’t buy it.”
Before Man Bao spoke, Zhou Wu Lang already hurriedly said yes. Even Zhou Da Lang couldn’t help saying, “It should be three coins. That’s enough.”
He knew that this rooster cost sixty-five wen. Three silver coins changed to copper coins would be three hundred wen!
Zhou Da Lang glanced at the extremely miserable, nearly featherless rooster on the ground. Moreover they got a free rooster. Although it wasn’t good-looking, it didn’t affect the taste.
Hearing her eldest brother confirm it, Man Bao was also very happy. Clutching the silver, she closed the deal with Shi Daye and even said, “Next time I have a nice rooster I’ll look for you again.”
“It has to know how to fight, or at least be good-looking and robust like this one.”
A person watching their transaction quietly followed after the Zhou family. Once out of the marketplace and Shi Daye’s line of sight, he immediately walked over, “You guys are really dumb. That big rooster was worth at least five taels of silver. You sold it for just a few coins to Shi Da Ye. You lost big time! Hurry and go back to ask for a higher price!”
The three Zhou brothers led by Zhou Da Lang were dumbstruck. “One, one rooster is worth that much money?”
“That’s no ordinary rooster. It’s a money making rooster! Shi Da Ye gambles with one toss. Do you know how much? At least twenty taels minimum. If this rooster wins, he can take that much in one gamble!”
The other person gestured, and everyone was dumbfounded. Only Man Bao looked up disdainfully at them, “How stupid. What if he loses?”
The Zhou family’s boiling blood instantly cooled. That’s right, what if he loses?
Ever since Fourth Elder Brother gambled away their money, Man Bao heard many many tragic stories from Ke Ke about people and races from ancient to present and even future wise species who lost everything and even their lives from gambling.
Ke Ke said gambling loses nine out of ten times. And the one winner isn’t necessarily skill or luck either. Didn’t they hear what Shi Daye said earlier?
There’s lots of cheating in gambling dens. Outsiders might not necessarily not know, they just don’t dare speak out. Why? Because they’re afraid of getting beaten or killed!
So Man Bao summarized that whoever was more powerful wins. If her Fourth Elder Brother could beat everyone under heaven, who would dare win his money?
“But, that rooster was worth five taels of silver!” Zhou Wu Lang still felt unwilling.
“Fifth elder brother, that rooster was originally only worth sixty-five wen. Not only did we earn extra money, we got a free big rooster too.” Man Bao had her own reasoning. She counted off her little fingers, “If the uncle who sold the big rooster found out about this, wouldn’t he be angered to death? If Shi Daye used this rooster to gamble and lost, not only would he lose money but he wasted the money he spent buying our rooster too!”
Zhou Wu Lang thought about it and felt much more at ease.
Zhou Da Lang also said, “Knowing contentment leads to happiness. Look at you, a full grown adult yet you don’t understand as clearly as Man Bao.”
“Eldest brother, don’t pick on me. Weren’t you also regretful earlier?” Zhou Wu Lang felt wronged, but he inevitably looked at Youngest Sister in a new light. “Man Bao, you really are smart. Father and mother always said you’re smarter than all of us. I didn’t believe it before but now I see you really are smart!”
Man Bao proudly nodded without false modesty, “I’m just average. Mainly my friend taught me well and I learn fast.”
“What friend? Isn’t it just Teacher Zhuang?” Zhou Wu Lang said, “Since you’re Teacher Zhuang’s student now, you can’t keep calling him friend. You have to call him teacher.”
He also said, “Actually I don’t think you being smarter than us means we’re stupid. Mainly your father and mother are smarter people…”
“Fifth Son, what nonsense are you saying?” Zhou Da Lang slapped the back of his head. Zhou Wu Lang then realized he let words slip out. He quickly covered his mouth and grinned foolishly, looking nervously at Man Bao.
But Man Bao reassured Zhou Da Lang, “Eldest brother, don’t get angry. Fifth elder brother really is just dumber. You’re smarter like father.”
Then Man Bao said especially proudly, “I’m like mother. Mother is a little smarter than father. Fifth elder brother isn’t like anyone. Who knows if he was picked up off the streets. *sigh* Mother worries every night before bed, wondering if Little Five will ever find a wife in the future.”
Zhou Da Lang and Zhou Liu Lang: ……
Zhou Wu Lang felt aggrieved, “How am I stupid? I’m honest, like father, you know?”
Man Bao shook her head. “I don’t see any resemblance between you and father. If you don’t believe me, go ask father when you get home. See if he says you resemble him or not.”
