- After a brief stint as an apprentice for a pettifogger, Rousseau sets out to become an engraver.
- Rousseau kind of loves his new job. Too bad his boss accuses him of trying to use his mad skills to forge money.
- Rousseau isn't guilty of that crime, but he does get himself involved in a crime ring—an asparagus-stealing crime ring, to be more specific.
- Thinking back about his involvement in this (cough) terrible crime, Rousseau remembers how he's always been materialistic. Tell it to Madonna, dude. Around this time, Rousseau discovers the joys of lending libraries. He goes through books at Mme La Tribu's library lickety-split.
- At the age of sixteen, Rousseau is told he'll be fired if he doesn't make it back on time in the evening. It looks like our guy has a little tardiness problem.
- What happens next? You guessed it: while hanging out with some buddies, Rousseau doesn't make it back on time before the bridge goes up for the day.
- Rather than face his master in shame, R. decides to just up and quit, despite his cousin Bernard telling him to pull it together.