Chapter 1312 Return to the Village
The banker was indeed not prepared. Mr. Zhuang might only stay at home for a few days a year, and the room would be empty all the time. If he suddenly came back, the room would be cold and not convenient for living.
Manbao and the others simply rolled up their sleeves and went into the house to clean, opening all the doors and windows...
Mrs. Zhuang stared blankly at them as they took out the quilt, dusted it, and spread it on the bed, and then brought a brazier into the house to warm it up.
Zhou Man took out a small purse from his pocket and poured the herbs inside into the brazier. Soon the room was filled with the aroma of medicine.
This is a medicinal herb that repels insects and wards off filth. They burned it a lot on their way back. The house has not been occupied for a long time and there is no ventilation, so it needs to be fumigated. The lit brazier can also dispel the cold and dampness in the house.
The three of them worked quickly and did it all by themselves without even asking Daji who was waiting outside for help.
Zhuang Ji'an stood aside and looked at them blankly. When he came to his senses, he immediately stepped forward to help.
When Zhuang Dalang rushed back from the shop, the room had already been tidied. Manbao lit two braziers in the room to ward off the cold, and then the few of them retreated to the yard to greet Zhuang Dalang.
Every year, the banker receives festival gifts from the three families in Qili Village. Although his relationship with them is not very close, it is not unfamiliar either.
After only not seeing each other for a year, he felt that his father's three disciples had changed a lot, and there was a sense of nobility in them.
Thinking of the lively events in the county town more than two months ago, Zhuang Dalang became more polite to them. When he asked about his father's carriage being left behind, he simply got up and went to the intersection with them to pick him up.
He went into the kitchen and said to Mrs. Zhuang, "Cook the food softer. Father doesn't like hard food."
"Got it. Go pick it up quickly. Oh, and bring Ji An with you."
They went to the main road to the county town to pick them up. This was the only main road in Luojiang County, and if you wanted to pass through the city, you had to take this road.
The convoy carries a lot of stuff and needs to be checked when entering the city, so it goes much slower.
They simply stood at the intersection of the avenue and waited. Bai Shan took the opportunity to ask about the county affairs. "I heard that County Lieutenant Liu took over the position of county magistrate? I wonder if there have been any changes in county affairs."
Zhuang Dalang didn't want to discuss the county magistrate in public, but he didn't refuse to answer. He simply lowered his voice and said, "The county is still the same as it was when County Magistrate Yang was here. Nothing has changed. But it's true that the officials' lives are not as good as before."
Zhuang Dalang worked as an accountant in the Zhang family's grain shop. He was not just the accountant of a grain shop, but the general accountant. The county's Zhang Zhubu came from the Zhang family, so he was quite well-informed about the news in this regard.
As they were talking, they heard the sound of a carriage. They looked up and saw a convoy appearing at the end of the street.
Mr. Zhuang's carriage stopped at the intersection, and Zhuang Dalang hurried forward to catch it.
Mr. Zhuang got out of the car and let out a long sigh, saying, "My old bones are almost broken by the shaking."
He pushed Zhuang Dalang's hand away, walked around a bit, then made way for the carriage to enter. He said to Zhuang Dalang, "I've brought some things back. Go and have them unload them and put them away carefully. I'm going to say goodbye to Old Madam Liu."
Old Madam Liu also got out of the car and greeted Mr. Zhuang. The two were already familiar with each other, so there was no need for much formality. After saying hello, Mr. Zhuang turned around and went home. He didn't want to take the car again and wanted to walk in by himself.
Madam Liu said to Bai Shan and the others, "After you send Mr. Zhuang off, hurry back home. The city gates will be closed soon."
Bai Shan agreed.
Madam Liu and the others left first.
Manbao and Bai Erlang helped Mr. Zhuang back to his house. After taking a sip of hot tea, he waved to the three of them and said, "Alright, you guys can go back now. It will be dark soon if you stay any later."
The three of them ran off, "Sir, we'll come back to see you in a few days."
Mr. Zhuang waved his hand, turned his head to look at Zhuang Ji'an, smiled, and waved, "Come here, let Grandpa take a look at you."
Zhuang Ji'an liked his grandfather very much because he always bought him all kinds of delicious and fun things, so he walked up.
Manbao and the others ran back to Qianji Restaurant, and Zhou Wulang happened to drive over to pick them up. After picking them up, they went home together.
Seeing Manbao riding on the horse, Xiao Qian was very proud, but she was still afraid that she would fall off the horse, so she waved to her from the carriage, "Manbao, come inside the carriage, it's too cold outside."
Zhou Wulang sat on the shaft of the cart, hunching his neck and saying, "Sister-in-law, she's not afraid of the cold. She rode half the way back on horseback. Let her ride. There's no room for so many people in this cart."
Santouhe was filled with envy and also lay on the carriage to look at Manbao, "Auntie, I want to ride too."
Manbao said, "But my Chiji is still small and can't hold two people. Go ask Daji to take you."
Santou looked back at Daji and refused. "Forget it, I'll ride it when I get home. Aunt, will you let me ride it?"
Manbao said: "I can teach you."
When San Ya heard this, she immediately said, "I want to ride a horse too!"
Santou pushed her aside and said, "You are still young, why are you riding a horse?"
San Ya complained to Xiao Qian, "Aunt, Third Brother bullied me again."
Xiao Qian glared at Santou and patted him, "Don't bully your sister."
Santou felt very aggrieved and stopped sitting in the car. He got out and sat with Zhou Wulang.
Manbao and the others had already run away laughing, while Santou had a look of envy and frustration on his face.
Zhou Wulang found it funny. Santou was the same age as Manbao, and he had been raised by Zhou Wulang as a child, so the two of them were very close. He bumped his shoulder and said, "Your mother just scolded you, so why are you so angry?"
Santou muttered softly, "I recite it every day."
Zhou Wulang didn't believe it, so Santou whispered, "Uncle Wu, you don't know, now the family is no longer partial to us, but to our third sister."
Zhou Wulang was puzzled, "Why?"
"Because my third sister will be the only girl in the family," he said, "my eldest sister is getting married, my second sister is in the capital, and my fourth aunt has given birth to a younger brother. From now on, my third sister will be the only one left in the family, so the family has started to favor her."
San Tou's words were very convincing, but Zhou Wulang didn't quite believe it. No matter how biased he was, didn't San Ya still have to help in the restaurant?
It can be seen that there is not much bias.
Madam Liu and the others left first, so they arrived at Qili Village first. When Manbao and the others came back on horseback, a lot of people had gathered at the entrance of the village to watch the fun, with Old Zhou standing at the front.
He had very good eyesight. In the afterglow, he stared into the distance. When Manbao appeared on the small road at the entrance of the village on his red horse, he slapped his thigh and said happily, "Oh, it's Manbao. See? The one riding the horse is Manbao."
The village chief who was caught by him nodded repeatedly, "I see, I see."
Old Zhou was so proud that he said to everyone happily, "This is my daughter, my daughter..."
Everyone:... Nonsense, we have been in the same village for so many years, who doesn’t know that this is your daughter?
No, this is not your daughter!
Just as someone was about to point this out, Manbao had already rushed over on horseback. When the horse almost stopped in front of her, she jumped off the horse and rushed towards Old Zhou, shouting, "Dad—"
See you at 9pm
(End of this chapter)
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