The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 2264 - 2239: Treasure Cache

Manbao dragged Bai Shan to the riverbank to pick up stones.

Bai Shan asked, "What are we collecting these for?"

"To exchange for gold, silver, and jewels."

Bai Shan: "...Is there really such a good deal?"

Seeing Manbao speaking so earnestly, Bai Shan was thinking about whether to call Bai Er and the others to join in when Manbao said, "What are you thinking? I’m planning to exchange the gold, silver, jewels, and precious silk in the boxes for other things."

Bai Shan was taken aback and asked, "Then where will the jewels be kept?"

Manbao just glanced at him, and Bai Shan understood.

After thinking it over, he said, "It’s not suitable for too many people to know about this, but relying on just the two of us isn’t enough either. I’ll make the arrangements."

Manbao was confused. She had been used to hiding things well since childhood and thought that hiding them was sufficient. What other arrangements were needed?

Bai Shan then took her hand to go back. He first called Steward Li to purchase several empty boxes with the villagers, then called Bai Erlang and the others to join him at the river to pick up stones. They also exchanged two pieces of silk for some poor-quality leather from the villagers, and brought in quite a bit of dry grass. Finally, they had all their valuables moved into the house.

This was within his authority, and for those matters beyond his control, he went to find Assistant General Nie and the two messengers, saying, "We’re planning to reorganize the valuables within our luggage. Do you need us to seal and preserve your boxes?"

Assistant General Nie thought that when facing bandits, even if things are kept separately, they might still not be secure, because when chaos ensues, everyone focuses on survival. How many would care about these gold, silver, and jewels?

However, Bai Shan’s and Zhou Man’s abilities were clear to see all along the way. So, after thinking it through, he agreed, and on behalf of his soldiers, he agreed as well.

After all, everyone remembers what they have in their possession.

They remembered, but Bai Shan did not, so to avoid disputes, he had Bai Erlang and the others use paper and pen to count and record.

First, everyone took their precious items from their luggage in hand, and then recorded them before placing them back into boxes. The subsequent arrangements would be his responsibility.

The matter was handled with great fanfare, yet no one knew how they planned to hide these items.

But because they used paper and pen to record, those soldiers who originally did not plan to hide their treasures but instead tie them to themselves also went to register.

They said to their comrades, "In battles, accidents happen. As the General said, with the current chaos in the Western Regions, who knows when we might fall on the battlefield? If the treasures are on us and we die, and if they can’t dig out my body, wouldn’t my valuables be lost just like that?"

"Didn’t you just say that if all the treasures are given to the adults for safekeeping, they might be lost if the luggage is lost?"

"I was just worried..." he mumbled, then said, "But now that Young Master Bai is so honest and even records everything, I reckon that even if something is lost in the future, Young Master Bai might compensate us accordingly."

Comrade: "...Wouldn’t that harm Young Master Bai?"

"Well, we can just ask for less at that time."

"Do you think it’s possible that Young Master Bai wants to hide the treasures here and retrieve them when we return?"

"That’s possible, but they also brought a lot of silk. Those are meant to be sold in the Western Regions, right? If left here, would they need to carry them back to the Central Plains?"

The soldiers speculated endlessly.

In the house, Bai Shan was opening the boxes that had been counted, watching as Manbao walked over to each box, took things out, and then they disappeared.

He watched for a while, though his little father-in-law might be present, he couldn’t help but ask, "Manbao, can Uncle Zhou only take over things from your hand, not touch them himself?"

Manbao blinked, realizing it was true. Keke could scan things, but couldn’t record them without them first being in her hands. Therefore...

Manbao nodded.

Although she didn’t quite understand the reason, since yin and yang are separate, perhaps this was Heaven’s restriction on people from both sides.

Otherwise, Uncle Zhou wouldn’t have suffered so many years of injustice.

Bai Shan took one item out at a time and handed it to her to speed things up, but he was still curious, "Manbao, are these gold, silver, and jewels useless in the afterlife?"

Manbao thought about it and felt that even if there is an afterlife, they also have their own currency and "gold and silver." Why rely on things from the living world?

For example, in Teacher Mo’s world, money is just a number in the system, not even "gold and silver," let alone copper coins.

So Manbao nodded and confidently said, "Useless."

Bai Shan sighed, "Then all the lavish burials of wealthy households throughout history would be useless?"

Manbao laughed, "There should still be use for them; they could be considered military resources in the future."

Bai Shan helplessly tapped her nose, "Don’t let the teacher hear that, or you’ll get another good reprimand."

Manbao nervously looked outside, sighed with relief, then said seriously, "When I die in the future, I’ll bury some of my written manuscripts and the like with me, so that even in the afterlife I can brag to people. Items like gold and silver should be left for the descendants. If they need it, they can use it. If I take it with me, then if I lack money in the future and they unfilially dig my grave for it, then that’d be truly upsetting."

Bai Shan couldn’t help but laugh aloud. The more he thought about it, the more amused he was, almost to the point of tears, "The teacher advises us to think three steps ahead. You’ve already planned out things decades ahead before even taking a step."

Manbao said, "That’s called being prepared for a rainy day."

As they talked, they packed things away, and soon had everything stored. Then they began putting stones and sand into the boxes they had previously emptied.

Each box had a label written by Bai Shan, indicating what items were inside before.

They considered the weight of the items previously in each box and filled them accordingly.

For example, in the box that had previously contained gold and silver, they placed rocks...

In the box that had silk, they rolled leather around dried vegetables before placing it inside...

They had only packed two boxes when Bai Erlang and the others finished tallying the items outside and had them carried in.

Bai Shan closed the remaining boxes and opened the door to let them in.

The soldiers had very few scattered items, filling only two boxes. They would also keep some gold and silver on themselves, not entrusting everything to Bai Shan for safekeeping.

Bai Shan didn’t mind, as the records were detailed enough.

He let them into the room, then said to Bai Erlang, "Later, you call Yin Huo and the others over to help."

Bai Erlang peeked in and asked, "Why can’t they come over now?"

Bai Shan pushed his head out, saying, "When I’ve arranged things properly, then you can come in. Only Manbao and I know everything about this. The fewer people who know, the safer it is."