After exchanging pleasantries, Li Xu took them to see Dean Li and his wife. After explaining their purpose, Dean Li instructed Li Xu to take Jiang Jingyi downstairs to settle in.
"Dean Li, I've set up a table at Mingyue Tower. After noon, I'll bring A-Yi to the academy. Is that alright with you?" Jiang Hua asked.
“That’s certainly possible,” Dean Li nodded.
“If Dean Li and his wife would do you the honor, they could come along. You’ve accepted A-Yi as your last student, but the formal apprenticeship ceremony hasn’t been held yet,” Jiang Hua suggested.
"Since Miss Jiang has said so, let's take advantage of today to complete the apprenticeship ceremony together." Dean Li had the same idea, so he agreed to Jiang Hua's suggestion.
An hour later, after leaving Shifang Academy, Jiang Hua led Aunt Liu and the others directly to Mingyue Tower.
At the entrance of the restaurant, Wen Yu and the others were already waiting. When they saw Jiang Hua coming, they all bowed.
"Go inside, don't just stand here."
Upon reaching the private room on the second floor, we found two tables set up inside. The room was quite spacious, enough for Dean Li and his group to sit down when they arrived.
"Miss Jiang, you're not all here yet, so let me serve you some fruit, snacks, and tea first," Sun Nian said as he walked in with the other waiters.
Only after Jiang Hua agreed did they place the tea and snacks on the table.
"Auntie, please have some tea first," Jiang Hua said.
"It's alright, Huahua, we can handle it ourselves. You can go and greet the other guests," Aunt Liu said, waving her hand.
"Where are the other guests?" Jiang Hua replied. "It's Dean Li and his group. But judging by the time, they should be here by now."
Jiang Hua led Jiang Jingyi downstairs to wait for them. As soon as they came downstairs, they saw Bai Heng carrying a congratulatory gift.
"Congratulations, Miss Jiang," Bai Heng said, handing the congratulatory gift to Jiang Hua.
"Thank you very much, Lord Bai." Jiang Hua looked at the handsome man in front of her, feeling a little surprised. How did he know that she was hosting a banquet at Mingyue Tower?
"Shen Qingchuan asked me to prepare some small gifts for him, as he has matters to attend to in Qingshi County and cannot leave," Bai Heng explained.
"Yes, thank you for your help, Lord Bai." Jiang Hua told Jiang Jingyi to wait for Dean Li downstairs while she took Bai Heng upstairs first.
“Miss Jiang, there’s no need to be so polite and formal. Just call me Bai Heng.”
Bai Heng's arrival startled Aunt Liu and her family, who were sitting and drinking tea, so much so that they immediately stood up.
"No need for formalities. There's no Lord Bai here today. Just consider me Huahua's friend." Bai Heng stopped Aunt Liu and her family from bowing.
"Auntie, please sit down. Lord Bai has already spoken," Jiang Hua advised.
Jiang Jingyi, who was leading Dean Li and the others into the room, heard Bai Heng call his stepmother Huahua as soon as he stepped in.
When did he become so familiar with his stepmother?
His father never even considered calling his stepmother that!
When Dean Li arrived, Jiang Hua asked Sun Nian to brew another pot of tea and also told the kitchen to prepare the dishes so they could be served.
After the apprenticeship ceremony was completed, Jiang Hua asked everyone to take their seats and begin the meal.
Xu Dagui's side also held a banquet. It had been a long time since the village had held a large banquet, so everyone took their seats early.
"Mother-in-law, why hasn't that wretched girl Jiang Hua come over yet?" Madam Xu asked anxiously. The talisman water was already prepared and mixed into the chicken soup.
"What's the rush? I've already sent Yan Yan and Ying Xuan to fetch her," said Madam Xu, rolling her eyes at her.
However, the next second, Lin Shuyan and Zhou Yingxuan returned, but Jiang Hua was nowhere to be seen.
"Grandma, Aunt, Jiang Hua and the others aren't home," Lin Shuyan said.
"Not at home? What are we going to do? We still need them!" Just as Madam Xu was about to continue speaking, she was secretly pinched by Madam Da Xu, making her cry out in pain.
"Auntie, is there something you need from Huahua?" Zhou Yingxuan asked, puzzled, looking at the strange expressions on Xu Shi and her husband's faces.
“Brother Xuan, it’s like this. My cousin is Yaozu’s sister after all. My grandmother and aunt kindly invited her and her family to come over for the feast, but my cousin agreed and then decided not to come today.” Lin Shuyan immediately explained.
"So that's how it is. It was the same with the villager I saved last time. I haven't even contacted her yet, and today she's done something so rude again." Zhou Yingxuan was also somewhat angry upon hearing this.
She thought of Jiang Hua before, when she was still Xu Erya. She wasn't like this before. How did she become like this after getting married?
Was she corrupted by Jiang Xingzhou?
Zhou Yingxuan thought of Jiang Xingzhou, who had never really gotten along with the villagers, and realized that this was bound to happen.
"Brother Xuan, what are you thinking about?" Lin Shuyan looked at Zhou Yingxuan, who was deep in thought. Was he thinking about that bitch Jiang Hua?
"It's nothing," Zhou Yingxuan replied casually.
However, this attitude already made Lin Shuyan feel uncomfortable.
"Mother-in-law, what should we do now?"
After Lin Shuyan and Zhou Yingxuan left, Xu rubbed the spot where Da Xu Shi had pinched her. The old hag really hit hard!
"What can we do? What else can we do!" Madam Xu sneered. "Since she won't come, we'll just send it over. Anyway, those two talismans have already been placed as Bamboo Goddess instructed."
"We can just send the chicken soup to her later," said Madam Xu nonchalantly.
"She found out about that stuff, what are we going to do if she doesn't drink our good chicken soup anymore?"
Now that brat isn't as easy to bully as before, Xu is a little worried.
"You're overthinking it. You can't even discipline the child you came from, what use are you!"
Xu choked. Lately, her mother-in-law kept bringing this up, or asking why she hadn't gotten pregnant yet.
Suddenly I felt a bit tired. I did all the housework during the day, and at night I had to endure Xu Dagui's torment.
Thinking of this, Xu felt a chill run down her spine. Turning around, she saw Xu Dagui drinking with the men in the village, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
...
After lunch, Jiang Hua told Jiang Jingyi to go back with Dean Li and the others. Bai Heng, who had something to discuss with Dean Li, also left with them.
After seeing Dean Li and his group off, Jiang Hua planned to go to the market to see if anyone was selling dogs, intending to buy one to take home.
"Huahua, why are you thinking of buying a dog? Everyone in the village has puppies, just buy one," Aunt Liu said after hearing Jiang Hua's words.
"A small one can't guard the gate, so let's raise a big one."
As I walked along, I saw that many of the vendors were selling puppies, and they all said that they had developed a deep bond with the puppies they had raised from a young age.
In the end, Jiang Hua chose a rather fierce-looking mongrel dog, which only cost her one or two taels of silver.
After buying the dog, it was almost time to go home, so we took an oxcart.
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