Bai Ziqian looked at his aunt, who was adorned with gold jewelry, in the carriage and asked in a calm tone, "What brings you here this time, Aunt?"

The old woman chimed in, "Oh dear, young master, this is your very aunt, the Bai family's great-aunt. Isn't it the most important thing that she's come to see you, the only son of the Bai family?"

He then glanced at the villagers and sneered, "You can't blame yourself, young master. You're with a bunch of country bumpkins every day. How much etiquette can you possibly know?"

"That's really something, Master Bai. Why not send you to our county magistrate's house to learn about social etiquette? Sending you to this rural area is just a waste of your time."

In the past, the villagers would definitely have thought this was true. The sons of wealthy families should be placed in the county magistrate's household. Putting aside everything else, the magistrate's knowledge was worlds apart from theirs!

The lady's nephew is staying with her for a while, so she should teach him diligently.

But after what happened the night before, ah, you can know a person's face but not their heart. Although they are uneducated, they won't harm anyone! They don't have any malicious intentions either. At least with them, Young Master Bai won't go astray!

Master Bai is quite clever; he knows where is best for Young Master Bai.

The villagers' hostile gazes made the old woman lean back in fear, but she straightened up again and stared intently at Bai Ziqian.

She was the head maid in Magistrate Wu's household. Not to mention the young master, even Li Huyu would have to give her some face.

Bai Ziqian was still young and hadn't learned the skill of keeping his emotions in check. His fair face darkened like the bottom of a pot as he looked straight at the old nanny beside his aunt and demanded, "Even if my manners are bad, it's a matter between our masters. Who are you, a servant, to comment on it?"

Besides, the villagers of Shanshui Village owe me nothing, so why should they be mocked by you? Shouldn't you apologize, Granny?!

The villagers who had been watching the commotion were angry, but they were used to being treated as inferior. They never expected that the young master of the Bai family would stand up for them and retaliate, even at the cost of offending the old nanny by his aunt's side!

It doesn't matter if they are looked down upon or ridiculed. It's nothing. Offending the old nanny is the same as offending his aunt. If his aunt goes back and complains to Madam Bai, Bai Ziqian will be accused of disrespecting his elders.

The men and women didn't know how to persuade her, and they lost interest in watching the commotion. They all looked at Shui Qing, anxious and at a loss for what to do.

Shui Qing thought that Bai Ziqian was still inexperienced.

Look at his father, Bai Manshan, smiling on the outside, but in his heart, well, the person opposite him is his sister, so he can't scold her.

Forget it, Ziqian should just do it his way. After all, if you hold back, you'll only get angrier, and if you back down, you'll only feel like you've lost out.

The old woman's face flushed red and then turned pale, feeling that the young master of the Bai family had made her lose face in front of a group of villagers who were far inferior to her.

But he's right. He's the young master of the Bai family, the master. Since we're talking about etiquette and hierarchy, I have no right to say that to him!

With her face flushed and pale, she turned to look at her master in the carriage.

Bai Ling's expression was also unpleasant. She first glanced at Shui Qing, and seeing that Shui Qing ignored her and didn't even bother to give her a verbal reprimand, she became even more displeased.

This village woman is quite shrewd; she didn't say a single word that would offend Qian'er, all to win his favor.

Okay, if she won't say it, then I, her own aunt, will. "Qian'er"

Bai Ziqian interrupted, "Aunt, I've been living in Shanshui Village for almost a year, and you only just found out? Tomorrow is the New Year, you didn't come here today to take me to your mansion for the New Year, did you?"

Bai Ling choked. Guangzong and Yaozu had never gotten along with their cousin Qian'er. It was one thing for them to dislike each other on ordinary days, but it would be much worse to bring Qian'er over during the New Year and cause trouble for their two precious sons.

Besides, it wasn't like she just found out Qian'er was here... Luckily, she had made preparations before coming here!

She smiled and said kindly, "You are the only son of our Bai family, how could your aunt not miss you?"

In the past, I trusted Madam Hu and knew she wouldn't mistreat me. But if I come here often, it's as if I don't trust her.